PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a national charity to build an 80-space overspill car park in green belt land in Saunderton, despite concerns.

Wycombe District Council said it was worried about the impact the development could have on the rural character of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But councillors gave the nod after reassurances that the car park, at the home of Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, would be built using specialist materials and sympathetically landscaped.

Cllr Malcolm Blanksby (Ind, Greater Marlow), told colleagues he was in "no doubt" a car park would be visually obtrusive to the surrounding area, but added "the landscaping proposals will mitigate any harm caused".

The current proposal, which landed on council desks in March, seeks to build a formal parking area at the charity's Grange headquarters accessed via a tree-lined avenue from Haw Lane.

Plans are also in place to extend one of the barns to provide additional storage for animal products, food and merchandise.

Cllr Richard Pushman (Con, Greater Hughenden), said the obtrusiveness of such a development should not be under estimated, and strict guidelines should be put in place to ensure the countryside is not affected.

He added: "It's a major development. I have no problem with the concept but we do need to minimise its impact."