The decision to approve plans for 410 new homes in High Wycombe could be put forward for a judicial review.
Parish councillors in Hazlemere met last night (November 29) to discuss the recent approval of 370 homes between Terriers Farm and Hazlemere Recreation Ground, as well as smaller plans for 40 homes on a field off De Havilland Court.
Concerns were raised at the planning meeting about the lack of a strategic gap between the two areas with Hazlemere parish councillor Leigh Casey saying it would create a 'continuous urban sprawl'.
But despite this, the proposal for 370 new homes was approved by six votes to four.
Now though, parish councillors have met at an emergency general meeting to discuss their concerns and the prospect of putting the decision forward for a judicial review.
READ MORE: 410 new homes approved in High Wycombe: ‘Appalling’
Independent councillor, Ed Gemmell raised concerns over a lack of separation between Hazlemere and Terriers Farm, adding that planners ignored the requirement for this in Wycombe's neighbourhood plan.
He told the Free Press: "It is really important for the parish council to represent the wishes of the local community and the local community has definitely expressed it does not want to lose the open space between Hazlemere and Terriers."
At the meeting, councillors discussed their individual concerns with the approval to decide whether to put it forward for a review.
A judicial review claim is a challenge made against a decision by a public authority via the courts and could cost upwards of £30,000.
Cllr Gemmell added that a requirement for a carbon emissions assessment in the Hazlemere Neighbourhood Plan was not taken into consideration.
He also said that the Wycombe Housing Intensification Supplementary Planning Document from 2011 was also not considered which talks about the intensification of residential areas.
The committee backed both plans despite nearly 200 objections.
But Persimmon and Redrow’s planning consultant Steve Brown told the meeting on November 21 that the 370 ‘energy efficient’ homes and sports pitches proposed by the applicants were the result of a ‘10-year dialogue’ with planning officers and statutory consultees.
The expert said his clients were ‘immensely proud’ of their work on the plans.
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