Councillors in Buckinghamshire will be asked to proceed with controversial plans for up to 100 homes on playing fields the authority owns in Stoke Mandeville.

Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet will decide on Tuesday, July 12 whether to approve a proposal to submit an outline planning application to develop the disused former Buckinghamshire County Council Community Sports and Social Club and its land which extends to a total 3.7 hectares.

Officers have recommended approval but a consultation summary produced by Savills shows out of a total 373 responses, 329 were objections, only 30 were in support and 14 were neutral.

The report concluded: “It is evident from the feedback that the loss of green open space raised a lot of concern from the local community, with 174 responses including comments regarding this.

“Other key themes which were discussed frequently included objection to building houses on the site or within the local area due to the amount of recent residential development in Stoke Mandeville.”

Lack of infrastructure such as schools and GP surgeries were mentioned by objectors along with traffic concerns.

The council agenda for the meeting shows officers considered a series of options including:

  • Doing nothing – considered to result in a loss of potential income
  • Submitting a full planning application – considered too costly and may not suit a future developer’s intentions
  • Giving the site to the community – officers say it was tried but no scheme came forward
  • Selling the site without planning permission – considered to offer a poor return

The recommended option to submit an outline planning application for up to 100 homes (30 per cent affordable) will also include a sports arena for community and school use.

It is the second time the proposal has been before cabinet. It was approved at the June meeting but was later called in by the growth, infrastructure & housing select committee.

Cllr Anders Christensen, who submitted the call-in request along with 23 other members, succeeded on the basis that pre-planning consultation had not been published for the June meeting.

Image (Google) shows the two fields which make up the site, top and bottom.

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