Plans to build a pair of “visually intrusive” homes on green belt land in Chalfont St Peter were delayed by the council last week.

Chiltern District Council’s (CDC) planning committee met on Thursday (January 17) to discuss two different sets of proposals to bulldoze the equestrian buildings and house currently at Stable Farm, in Amersham Road, and build two detached homes in their place.

One set of plans submitted by the applicant, Daniel Family Homes, lays out the properties so they are facing each other, while the second set shows them side-by-side.

Councillor for Asheridge Vale and Lowndes, Jane MacBean, said there is “absolutely no merit” in the design of the two homes, adding they are not in keeping with their rural surroundings.

She said: “The current structures are dangerous and an eyesore on the landscape, so I do work with something positive being done here, although I have to say I find absolutely no merit in the design of these two residences.

“I think this is not in keeping with the area it sits in, it is totally out of keeping with the rural area and there is just no merit to it whatsoever.”

Councillor for Central, Jonathan Rush, feared the properties would “cause greater harm to the green belt” as they would be “visually intrusive” on the landscape.

He added: “The proposed development would be visually intrusive on the landscape to the detriment of the rural character of the area and cause greater harm to the greenbelt.

“The proposal must be regarded as inappropriate development of the green belt which would fail the test of very special circumstances.”

Councillor for Austenwood, John Wertheim, feared the properties may be at risk of flooding due to poor drainage in the village, while the River Misbourne is nearby.

However, Marcus Evans, from SF Planning, assured members that Environment Agency maps show the area is not at risk of flooding and insisted the homes would “improve the openness of the green belt”.

He said: “The scheme involves the demolition of unsightly and in some cases semi-derelict structures and replace them with high quality, development and improved landscaping design which adheres to the character and appearance of the surrounding area.

“The proposed buildings will appear much smaller and take up less of the proportion of the brownfield site. They have been designed to be low-level and less visually intrusive.”

Councillors deferred both sets of plans – which will be referred back to the planning committee at a later date.