Bucks Local Plan
Bucks have reviewed over 1300 sites around the county, and identified more than 400 as suitable for development in the Local Plan. Several of these are in and around Chesham, as can be seen from the interactive map. A consultation is now in progress, until 16th March, and comments on the selected sites are invited.
Many of the these sites lie to the NE of Chesham, towards Lye Green, and Brown not Green have provided some guidance on how to respond.
They identify these key sites –
- Land NE of Chesham Lye Green – OPUS Ref 3136 & GB Ref CH004
- Mapledene Orchard, Lycrome Road, Chesham – OPUS Ref 639
- Land south of Lye Green Road and area identified in NESS as East Chesham inc GB ref’s CH005 & CH006
The seven broad categories apply to all these sites, and arise from the failure of planners to identify any true Brownfield sites within Chesham – other than the Waitrose car parks, which clearly are not going to be made available. This is despite the plans previously produced by the Chesham Renaissance CIC, which identified several such sites.
Another site of concern is OPUS ref 3369, the Wey Lane allotments. This is a greenfield site which could accommodate 11 dwellings, and far smaller than many other sites which are considered to be ‘too small’. It is not clear why this site has been selected, while actual Brownfield sites have been overlooked.
Other reasons for rejecting the site include
• The allotments are not “surplus open space’ – they are in active demand with a current waiting list of up to three years.
• There is strong governmental evidence that allotments are not ‘surplus to requirements’ therefore their loss conflicts with the national policy protections for recreational/open spaces.
• The National Planning Policy Framework (Dec 2024) states that existing urban open spaces (including recreational land) should not be built on.
• The Chesham Neighbourhood Plan (2025) explicitly includes allotments within the Plan.
• The Wey Lane Allotments are within the Chesham Conservation Area (Bucks CC 1970)
• The Allotments are part of Chesham’s Heritage, it being the original kitchen garden of the Chesham Workhouse c1700. This is recognised in the Chesham Neighbourhood Plan (2025).
• The land is on the highest risk level of flooding from surface water.
We urge members to respond to this consultation , which is likely to be the first of many regarding the Bucks Local Plan. Without such a plan, developers can point to a shortage of planned housing, which helps them to override any local planning decisions, so it is in our interest to ensure that any plan will protect the countryside and Green Belt around Chesham.
16-Mar-2026 – Our Responses
- To the Wey Lane Allotments proposals
- To the East Chesham NESS
While the consultation invites comments on the sites selected for possible development, the main weakness of the consultation is the absence of any significant brownfield development in or near the town centre. This is the only way to reduce long term pressure on the green belt.