HomeLog In / RegisterObjectivesAchievementsSitesSample LettersOther InformationContact Us

Another proposal for Holy Cross: a New Free School

Some of you may be aware that another proposal is being put together for an alternative use of the Holy Cross (The Grange) site: a new secondary school (with a Catholic ethos) for the Gerrards Cross area.  Some information is available at www.freeschoolgerrardscross.org
 
We have been asked what we think of this proposal, and if we support it.  At the moment we feel there is not enough known to be able to take a view.  Although it may be preferable to CDC's plans for hundreds of houses, we do not know:
  • what evidence there is for demand, or
  • how they propose to achieve the objectives given the current planning consent situation and the Judicial Review and Core Strategy challenges that the Parish Council are mounting, or
  • how the huge cost might be financed
  • i.e. whether it is realistically viable.
We have put these questions to the group who are putting the proposal together, and will then take a view. We have been told that their plan does not include any public access to the site, no new housing, nor any new facilities or amenities for the village.
 
Most importantly - what do you think?  How do you feel it compares with the alternative proposal already put forward, to move the CofE school to the site with sports facilities, and have some new housing there, and a new supermarket?  Please let us know your views.

Comer Homes' proposals for Newland Park - inherently unsustainable.

Sense4CSP have objected to Comer Homes' latest Newland Park development application in the strongest possible terms. Whilst we realise that something must be done with the site, the latest proposals are particlularly unsuitable and fly in the face of just about every sustainablility guideline that the government has issued.

We trust that both Bucks County Council and Chiltern District Council, despite putting it in their Core Strategy as a strategic development site will recognise the many shortfalls of this recent plan and reject it outright.

Please click here to view our letter

CH/2011/0976/FA AND CH2011/0977/HB - Newland Park Chalfont St Peter.

Chalfont St Peter Parish Council legally challenges Chiltern District Council's

Draft Core Strategy

Over the last three years, Chalfont St Peter Parish Council has made great diplomatic efforts to try to engage Chiltern District Council to work with the village so that the planned developments that are being imposed upon us may take a more sensitive and conducive form. Sense4csp have also been active in trying to persuade CDC to work with the residents to consider our wishes. Sadly our combined efforts have come to nothing although we are very encouraged that Chiltern District council now has new planning officers who seem much more open to the kinds of ideas that the village has been proposing.
 
However decisions made by the old planning department are still rolling forward and The Parish Council have already had to issue the Judicial review challenge to CDC for their decision to approve the Holy Cross/Gerald Eve planning approval which ignored the existing educational and community use of the site.
 
On the 15th of November 2011 CDC also ratified their Core Strategy after it was approved by the Government planning Inspector. Both CDC and The Planning Inspector have ignored an alternative development option for the site which would entail moving the Chalfont St Peter Church Of England Academy School and  developing the old school site as envisaged in the Arrowcroft plan. The failure to properly consider this alternative planning option, which was suggested very early on by the Parish Council in 2009, means that the Core Strategy is in breach of planning directives. The Parish Council has had no option but to challenge the approval of the Core Strategy by the Inspector in the High Court.  
 
The Parish Council along with their planning and legal advisers have done an excellent job building the case and highlighting the many legal issues therein. We expect the hearing to take place in Spring 2012.
 
SENSE along with the Parish Council sincerely hope that the landowner and CDC can see the value of the Arrowcroft proposal or a similar plan should it come forward. The Arrowcroft proposal not only provides new houses but also allows the Academy School to have a better site with playing fields and community sports facilities. It also provides the village with a much better mixed development that will enhance Chalfont St Peter for the future in contrast to the dense unimaginative plan that has already been passed which addresses none of the villages existing problems.

Please click here to download the Parish Council's press release.

We will keep you updated as we hear more.

Audley Retirement Ltd application - a quality retirement village on NSE land

Audley Retirement Ltd has at last submitted its plans to CDC to build its commended retirement village on NSE land. The development, whilst on a green belt site, lies within the footprint of existing now defunct NSE buildings. The architectural design falls into line with our Village Design Statement and hence sits nicely with the style of housing in Chalfont St Peter. The development also cleverly includes a fresh water lake in an effort to combat surface water drainage issues.

We feel that the developer has made great efforts to not only build a quality environment for retired people, but also to enhance our village. For these reasons Sense4CSP is giving the proposal its full backing and we have sent a letter to CDC to reflect this.

Please click here to view our letter.

Planning Application reference: CH/2011/2526/FA National Society for Epilepsy ("NSE"), Chalfont St Peter – redevelopment proposals by Audley Retirement ("Audley")

http://www.audleyretirement.co.uk/

  


SENSE needs your help, please make a donation now.

Sense4csp must now raise money to help our Parish Council fund the forthcoming Judicial Review.
You may contribute by:  

•  Clicking the link to donate by debit or credit card. Please ensure that you pay by card to avoid unnecessary fees.

•  Sending a cheque made payable to SENSE at PO Box, 2934, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL9 0WQ

Please help the fight to protect our village by donating whatever you can.

Subscribe to SENSE

Please send an email to object@sense4csp if you wish to receive our newsletters. Name the email 'Subscribe'.

Please note, if you are not receiving our newsletters, it is likely that they are being flagged as spam on your computer, you will need to look in your spam filter and approve all mail from Sense4CSP. Thank you.