Landmark decision for Beechcroft Developments at Wilton Park, Beaconsfield

Following a two-week inquiry in January, the Planning Inspectorate allowed Beechcroft’s appeal against the non-determination by Buckinghamshire Council of its application for planning permission for 95 assisted living units along with a 75-bed care home on a previously developed site at Wilton Park.

“Our planning appeal is one of the first to test the revised National Planning Policy Framework (2024) in the context of major development in the Green Belt,” comments Chris Thompson, Managing Director of Beechcroft.  “The inquiry considered the proper application of paragraph 155 of Grey Belt policy and paragraph 156 of the Golden Rules, which introduce new requirements for housing schemes in the Green Belt.   It was judged that our proposed development would comply with the new regulations in all respects and the inquiry rejected all concerns regarding landscape, design, daylight and sunlight issues.”

“Our team has worked extremely hard on what is an extremely complex planning situation and the outcome will, undoubtedly, be well received by housebuilders across the country,” 

In 2019, Inland Homes was granted outline planning consent to develop up to 350 open market and affordable homes on land once owned by the monks of Burnham Abbey and, more recently, by the Ministry of Defence.  Bewley Homes has already developed part of the site, but Beechcroft’s plans for the appeal focussed on the entrance of the site, with additional applications submitted for the remainder of the site which include the demolition of an unsightly tower block and the creation of new homes, open space and community facilities.