Burnham: hundreds sign petition against sweeping homes plan in greenbelt

A petition against a sweeping housing development in Burnham countryside has passed 750 signatures, as the developer revealed more details of its plan.

Croudace Homes said it is looking to build a watered-down development of 800 properties, some of which could be ready as soon as 2029, in early submissions to Buckinghamshire Council.

Parish councillors told the Advertiser Burnham’s village ‘essence’ was at stake when Croudace started a consultation for up to 1,000 homes on fields near Lent Rise Road last month.

Protests have been joined by MP Joy Morrissey, who said development ‘must not go ahead’ and ward councillor Cole Caesar (Reform) who feared ‘significant irreversible harm’.

An online petition created by Burnham resident Andrew Auld, asking residents to help ‘stop houses from being built on our precious farmland’ had received 768 signatures at the time of publication.

Croudace previously said it had planned ‘a long-term investment in Burnham’s landscape, ensuring that development enhances rather than diminishes the character of the area’.

What are the latest developments?

More details on what the sweeping development could look like have been laid out in formal submissions to Buckinghamshire Council as part of an early feasibility report.

The report considers what environmental hurdles the developer could face going forward on the site, much of which is used for farmland and is designated as greenbelt.

A detailed map of Croudace’s plan shows the 800 homes would be built in rows of areas designated for ‘residential development’, plotted across the south and eastern sections.

The developer said 50 per cent of the total homes would be classed as affordable. Affordable homes can be defined as properties for sale or rent at no more than 80 per cent of the market rate.

Four potential access site points are outlined on the map and include three via Lent Rise Road and another via Bingham Road to the south of the site.

Planned to the far southeast of the development is a new primary school and a building described as a ‘local centre’ which could feature spaces for education, work and health use.

An additional building described as a ‘farmstead style community hub with coworking and café’ is earmarked towards the centre of the site, looking west over two areas of orchard planting.

Land north of Hitcham Lane is allocated for new ‘meadow planting’ and green space designed to offset that lost by the new homes. New cycle and walking routes are also planned.

Common land at The Gore does not appear affected by the plan, according to the developer’s ‘illustrative masterplan’ map.

The report accompanying the designs said:

“It is anticipated that first occupations of the proposed development could occur in Q2 [April to June] 2029.”

Fears of ‘enormous pressure’ on infrastructure

The petition against Croudace’s plan said the area’s ‘rural charm is under threat as plans are underway to replace this precious farmland with housing developments’.

It said: “Turning this land into a housing estate would irreversibly damage our environment and heritage.”

The petition added: “Let us protect our countryside’s beauty for future generations, ensuring that our local community and biodiversity can thrive without the looming threat of constant development.”

In a message on social media, the Conservative MP for Beaconsfield Joy Morrissey said:

“Our greenbelt must be protected. The Burnham/Hitcham Farm development must not go ahead.”

She added the development would ‘place enormous pressure on already stretched infrastructure’ including nearby roads and health facilities.

Worry over infrastructure was shared by Burnham ward councillor Cole Caesar (Reform). He said the new primary school planned was ‘not proportionate to a new population of up to three thousand residents’.