An appeal against a decision to refuse plans to build a major residential development in Beaconsfield has been upheld.

The plans for the Beeches Park development next to Amersham Road (A355) and Minerva Way were refused by Buckinghamshire Council on November 25, 2021.

After the refusal, the developers appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate in the hope of upturning the decision.

However, on December 20, it was announced that the decision has been upheld and the appeal was dismissed.

At the time of the refusal, more than 500 letters were sent objecting to a housing development.

Councillor Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration said: “We are delighted that the Planning Inspector upheld our decision to refuse this application.

"From the start we argued that the plans for Beeches Park constituted inappropriate development and would have caused substantial harm to the Green Belt.

“We received more than 500 letters from local residents and organisations objecting to this housing development so this is a great result for both the Council and the residents of Beaconsfield.”

Joy Morrissey said on social media: "Fantastic news that the Bucks Council decision to refuse permission for the Beeches Park development in Beaconsfield has been upheld at appeal.

"I've added my very robust objections to those of local residents, Town and Unitary Councillors, thanks to everyone who stood firm!

The plans outlined 450 residential properties, including 40 per cent affordable housing, with four new access points off the Amersham Road (A355) and the Eastern Relief Road (ERR).

A local centre including a community building (1,050 sqm), retail (1,000 sqm), a new (two-form entry) primary and pre-school, playing pitches, and a public open space was also proposed.

But the council found the scheme, relating to a 24-hectare parcel of agricultural land next to the Amersham Road and Minerva Way, would constitute “inappropriate development” as well as “spatial and visual harm” in the Green Belt.

Adding: “The development parameters and layout represent poor design and fails to relate positively to the site and local context.

“It is considered that the additional traffic likely to be generated by the proposal would adversely affect the safety and flow of users of the existing road network and will not achieve safe and suitable access.”

An ecology assessment was “deficient”, the council argued, and impact mitigation on the Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation (SAC) “has not been secured”.

Cllr Jonathan Waters called the area a “holy Green Belt site”, adding: “Clearly, as an individual application for development in the Green Belt, this application is not supported by change of local plan and is an opportunistic challenge.”