We are a non-profit organisation, run by a small core group of volunteers.
SENSE4CSP was established in 2004 in response to the proposed large-scale development on the Epilepsy Society’s (formally the NSE) site. SENSE4CSP successfully raised funds from villagers to fight against the development and win a legal challenge to defeat the planning application at appeal.
We fully acknowledge that there is a desperate need to build more homes across the country, including affordable housing. It’s so important that the next generation has the opportunity to purchase a home of their own in our beautiful village in the future so that it can continue to thrive. However, we believe that new developments should be sustainable in terms of the road network, adequate infrastructure and access to public transport. We are also committed to protecting the environment, while maintaining the character of Chalfont St Peter through the preservation of our precious Green Belt.
Sadly, our village is once again under threat as the Epilepsy Society submitted another planning application in 2022 to build a staggering 975 homes and a 75 bed care home on Green Belt land within the Colne Valley Regional Park. SENSE4CSP needs your help to stop this massive unsustainable development as it would change the character of Chalfont St Peter forever.
SENSE4CSP members have proactively supported local developments, such as the excellently designed Audley Chalfont Dene development off Rickmansworth Road, where they met our core principles and we’ll continue to do so.
So far, we have…
The SENSE4CSP core group worked hard to raise awareness
We have worked hard to raise awareness of planning applications that affect Chalfont St Peter village. We set up this website so you can read up-to-date information on local planning issues that affect our village. We also produce regular newsletters that are sent directly to our subscribers’ inbox, so they can be regularly updated and informed.
We work collaboratively with experts to fight specific issues and hold public meeting when appropriate to inform villagers about current matters we’re campaigning against. The last meeting was attended by over 400 residents as part of our fight to block the latest unsustainable Epilepsy Society’s planning application and inform residents how best to have their say.
We also keep residents informed by delivering leaflets to every home in Chalfont St Peter when there’s something important to share with the whole village.
Holy Cross development
We led a highly successful campaign against the over development of the Holy Cross site in the centre of the village, managing to drastically reduce the density of houses and flats on the site.
We actively supported the Parish Council’s decision to mount a legal challenge against Chiltern District Council in relation to the planning application.
Scrutinising the Local Plan
We scrutinised the now defunct Chiltern District Council’s Local Plan and campaigned against the inclusion of prime Green Belt land, including that adjacent to the Paccar Sount Camp which would have resulted in the closure of this nationally used amenity. We have given the same level of scrutiny to the new Buckinghamshire wide Draft Local Plan. The site west of Denham Lane is again under threat from developers, however the Local Plan published July 2026, does not include the site in its housing target allocation. We are delighted to see that Buckinghamshire Council is protecting the Green Belt across the county from planned development to 2045.
M25 Motorway Service Station
We submitted a strong objection to the proposed M25 Motorway Service Station, to be built on Green Belt land in Chalfont St Peter. The Council ruled in our favour and the developer’s appeal was rejected in 2021!
A smaller revised application was submitted in 2022 along with an application for a service station on the M25 in Iver Heath. Buckinghamshire Council expressed a preference for the Iver Heath option, but neither were sanctioned by The Secretary of State. Both applications were again presented to the Council’s Strategic Sites Committee in August 2026. SENSE, the Parish Council and Councillor Darby made strong representation objecting to the Chalfont St Peter service area on grounds of inappropriate development in the Green Belt and the cumulative effect of loss of the Colne Valley Regional Park. Objections by Denham Aerodrome and the Colne Valley Trust were also heard at the meeting. However, these were overruled by the planning officers and members of the committee on the grounds that the area is now deemed Grey Belt, which we dispute.
The Epilepsy Society’s latest planning application
The Epilepsy society’s planning application submitted in 2022 is the largest single proposed development in Chalfont St Peter’s history. We submitted strong objections to the application, subsequent revisions and additional planning documents. The Society took the application to appeal as Buckingham Council failed to make a determination within a reasonable timeframe. SENSE was represented at the Public Inquiry as a Rule 6 party and our barrister presented strong arguments against the development, as did Buckingham Council. Our three professional witnesses presented compelling evidence on the Epilepsy Society’s business case, traffic and transport and the impact of flooding within the village. The case was called in by the Secretary of State who determined that the planning application should be approved. On 2nd August 2026, SENSE lodged a High Court Challenge as we believe the decision was unlawful.