Preliminary plans to build around 450 homes in Princes Risborough’s green belt were given the green light on Wednesday despite a raft of concerns from councillors.

At a meeting of Wycombe District Council’s planning committee on November 16 councillors backed plans for the development – which includes an open space – at Park Mill Farm in Park Mill.

Developers Halsbury Homes have been trying to build on the land near the Chilterns AONB for nearly a decade – with councillors throwing out three proposals since 2007.

However the slice of land has since been allocated for development in the draft Local Plan and members of the committee said the “world has changed significantly” since the original proposal.

Councillor Hugh McCarthy said: “What have here is a critical part of the growing part of Princes Risborough and if we get this wrong we have messed the whole lot up, and it is critically important we get this right.

“The officers have recognised that in the way they have approached this. It is doable but it isn’t right yet. I have concerns about the need to have a high quality development here.

“It is going to be a very very visible part of the new town it’s visible from the AONB and that is not an insignificant comment.”

Peter Glock, who lives in Park Mill, objected to the proposals, criticising the lack of flood provision and the impact the huge development could have on infrastructure.

He said: “As far as we can see there is no provision in there for flood relief. Even now that site if it rains a lot springs pop up in the site.

“We would need to makes sure there is flood relief in the plan as I believe there is no provision today…

“Then we move on to the impact on the local infrastructure we see there is some scope in there for school but we haven’t seen anything in there for doctors and dentists and the main impact is on traffic.”

Officers assured mitigation measures into reducing the impact on nearby roads and roundabouts are being explored, but it was admitted a solution has not been found yet.

However developers would be required to provide a new primary school, affordable housing, and a £2million pedestrian and cycleway underpass under the railway line which runs through the land.

A previous plan for 500 homes on the site from the same developer is currently under appeal and a development for 96 homes on the neighbouring Leo Laboratories land was given the green light in March.

Despite a raft of concerns councillors agreed that the land is suitable to be developed into homes and granted preliminary planning permission with a number of conditions with councillor Hugh McCarthy stating “this is not right yet but it could be made to work.”

The developers will now look in to creating more detailed plans.