Bucks Council refuse community centre planning application

A planning application for St Leonard's Parish Centre in Chesham Bois has been rejected by Buckinghamshire Council.

A major new development that would have seen an entire community centre levelled and replaced has been thrown out.

Plans to demolish St Leonard’s Parish Centre, on Glebe Way, in Chesham Bois, in favour of a massive “multifunctional parish centre” have been defeated.

St Leonard’s Parochial Church Council had sought permission to tear down the existing community centre, and in its place erect a new facility featuring new homes, a pre-school and up to 114 parking spaces.

However, Buckinghamshire councillors unanimously refused the application on four main points.

They are: the new build’s impact on the Chesham Bois Conservation Area in relation to its ‘size, mass and use of glazing’; the new rectory being “out of character”; ‘noise and light disturbance from vehicles’ and ensuing highway safety concerns.

Plans showed a new timber and glass parish centre featuring two halls (one with 275 seats), a café and kitchen, a day nursery, and a replacement four-bedroom rectory and double garage.

There was also mention of a new two-bedroom property for staff called Keeper’s Cottage, a new prayer room and a parish council office.

Reasons for a new centre were because the current one is “out-dated, too small and limiting in its layout and use”.

It was however met with hundreds of objections, not least from ward member Cllr Graham Harris who alleged the new facility would house “an American evangelical cult”.

“The applicants have sought to show this is a community facility”, said Cllr Harris. “This is just not true.”

He said “there has been no evidence put forward to justify this commercial building”, adding the ‘number of churchgoers has been falling year on year’.

He went on to say:

“The current rector is a leading member of the Jesus Ministry, an American evangelical cult.

“Looking at their website, this building is intended as a regional centre. Therefore, in planning terms, the building does not need to be…in the heart of Chesham Bois Conservation Area.

“There is little support for this scheme and overwhelming opposition – and I would urge refusal.”

Members also noted a ‘lacking improvement in biodiversity’ as a reason to refuse permission.