Fight goes on to stop 3,000 new homes in Aylesbury
Last week plans for Hampden Fields, on the edge of Aylesbury, were approved again
Last updated 3rd Mar 2021
The group fighting plans for 3,000 homes on the edge of Aylesbury haven't been put off by the council approving them.
Hampden Fields Action Group say they're worried about various issues, including:
- The main road through will carry over 48,000 vehicles per day (making it by far the busiest in Aylesbury)
- Other transport issues have not been fully assessed and questions remain over the use of the correct data
- Severance, where parts of a development get cut off from others and create social/crime issues
- Coalescence, where villages get subsumed into Towns e.g. Weston Turville to Aylesbury
- Prematurity to the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan. The inspector has effectively been forced into agreeing the road strategy around Aylesbury because the council are seeking to approve these applications ahead of his Plan review, the group say
Another is around healthcare provision, with Bucks Healthcare asking for around £5m from developers to help cope with extra demand, but it looks as if they would get around £1m instead.
Charlotte is one of those worried about the scheme between the A41 and A413:
"I think it's totally unnecessary.
"There are a lot more things this town could be concentrating on, like the roads, the paths and the hospital as well.
"We only have one hospital and it's under enough pressure as it is."
We reported last week that the plans look set to go ahead.
At the time, campaigner Phil Yerby said:
"Very disappointed they are going to approve it, without enough scrutiny in our opinion.
"There are many things wrong with the report and we intend not to stop at this point."
The group have committed to using fundraising to seek legal advice on what to do next.
Hampden Fields developers respond
A spokesman for The Hampden Fields Consortium, said:
“Hampden Fields will deliver a wide range of significant benefits such as the essential dual-carriageway Southern Link Road and a significant amount of social infrastructure comprising new schools, a health centre, and extensive public open space.
“We are committed to continuing to work with Buckinghamshire Council, Weston Turville Parish Council and the local community to bring forward the detailed plans for the site in line with Garden Town principles.”
They say the development will deliver:
- No less than 30% overall affordable housing which is in excess of the 25% minimum in the emerging VALP and represents a significant benefit to the many people on the housing register in the district.
- The dual carriageway Southern Link Road as well as further contributions of up to £12.1m towards other highways improvements including a contribution of £8.8m towards the South East Aylesbury Link Road which was approved at committee on 11th February.
- Land and a financial contribution of £17.9m for two new primary schools.
- £19.3m towards a new secondary school off-site at the Council’s preferred location at Kingsbrook.
- £2.1m towards additional Special Education Needs facilities at Stocklake Park School.
- Land and a building for a new Doctor’s surgery, capable of future expansion to serve the needs of the wider area.
- Land for 29,200 sqm of employment space providing the opportunity for 1,200 new jobs.
- A vibrant local centre providing a community centre, nursery, care home, a pub, restaurant, gymnasium and shops.
- 109 hectares (50% of the site) of high quality green space including formal and informal sports, areas for play, community orchards and growing spaces.
- Electric car charging points to every home and in the local centre, community facilities and employment area.
- A wide range of family homes, a 60-bed care home and 30 plots available for self-build and custom build.
A change of plans for Aylesbury overall?
Phil also told us that other parts of the link road project may have been dropped, including the council-backed Woodlands project.
But in a statement, Bucks Council and Buckinghamshire Advantage told us:
"Buckinghamshire Council say that the vision for an orbital route around Aylesbury using a series of ‘link roads’ remains a key priority to create capacity for future traffic increase as the built envelope in and around the town grows and to help ease existing congestion.
"The 'link roads' are being built on the outskirts of existing communities as new housing and business development is planned. These roads are being largely funded by statutory contributions paid by housing and commercial developers, along with funding bids from Central Government and other sources. This being the case, they will come forward at different times.
"Significant infrastructure projects cannot be delivered overnight, taking into account the need to secure funding, planning permission, contracts and undertake the physical works on the ground. However the long-term aspiration set out in the Aylesbury Transport Strategy remains to complete the link roads right around the town.
"Promoters of the Woodlands development, Buckinghamshire Advantage said that the Woodlands team has taken great care to respond to the requirements of the planning authority and have been assured that the application will be determined once the necessary evaluation reports are complete."