"Greedy" Eton College slammed by Dorney locals over homes plan

Existing barns, including a Grade II listed barn, at Boveney Court Farm in Boveney could be refurbished and converted into seven homes and five homes could be erected on the farmland beside the barns, which would require the demolition of a large open-sided barn to the west.

The plans were put forward by the prestigious Eton College, which owns the 1.81-hectare land and used it by its ground maintenance and forestry teams as workshops and stores. The aforementioned teams have moved to another site and the buildings are vacant.

The homes could be a mix of two, three, and four-bedrooms and the site could have 28 car parking spaces. This will be an additional 12 homes to the 14 that are currently there, some of them Eton College owns, according to residents.

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A new pond, private gardens, and a 10 percent biodiversity net gain are also proposed.

But since being submitted, which Buckinghamshire planning officers are yet to determine, the plans have been met with a tsunami of objections from residents.

Dorney locals say the 12 homes represent an overdevelopment of the site that will impact the character of the area, the single-track Boveney Road won’t be able to cope with the increased vehicle movements, flooding concerns, and the potential damage the development could have on the ecology and wildlife at the site.

One resident said Boveney “will never be the same” if the plans are approved, while another local said Eton College is being “downright greedy” for cramming as many homes as possible on the site.

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s not suitable for development and the general feeling locally is they [Eton College] is being greedy. They have plenty of houses [that they own] in the area and land that can be developed. They’re just doing this to make money.”

Eton College was also criticised for not notifying and consulting the wider Dorney community about the plans.

The resident said: “They [Eton College] haven’t consulted Dorney residents. I think most of us are perfectly happy with development because the farm is completely empty and there is a need for new houses, but this is overdevelopment with small houses with tiny gardens.

“They are basically trying to cram in a little housing estate in an area that won’t be able to cope with it.”

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An Eton College spokesperson said: “The proposed scheme at Boveney Court Farm is a sensible and proportionate redevelopment of buildings no longer used by the College.

“It will provide new homes in an area of acute housing need. Careful thought has been given to preserving the listed buildings, enhancing the ecological setting, and the whole scheme will stay within the bounds of the existing developed space.

“Funds generated from the scheme would be added to the College’s charitable endowment to support its extensive outreach programme and provision of bursaries.”