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After taking advice from planning experts, Chalfont St Peter Parish Council has launched a legal challenge against Chiltern District Council (CDC) in respect of their development proposals for the Holy Cross site. The challenge is in the form of a Judicial Review.
It is clear that the residents do not want the density of housing CDC propose, whilst it is equally clear that residents do want a school on the site, with some new housing. CDC have ignored the wishes of the local community, but the legal challenge relating to The Grange site is based on CDC's incorrect implementation of their ill-conceived and unfair plans for putting most of Chiltern District's new housing allocation into Chalfont St Peter.
CDC have:
- ignored the opportunities for building a new school on the site
- ignored the direct ruling of Sport England about use of the existing playing fields
- failed to consider properly the existing planning use protecting the site as "educational and amenity open space under private ownership", despite a directive from the Secretary of State informing CDC that the original planning policies should be used to determine the application.a
- made serious errors with respect to considering the protection of local historic assets and environmental impact issues.
The Parish Council also feel that the historical local significance of The Grange site in relation to the character of Chalfont St Peter has been ignored - a matter that could prove to a test case for last year's National Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment which introduced protection of historic sites with a local importance.
Local Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan commented on the village's action "The Government believes that local people should have more of a say over matters which affect their lives in their areas and I look forward to seeing the outcome of this review."
The Parish Council has issued an initial challenge to the decision and, bearing in mind the costs compared with the benefits, will consider how to proceed once it has seen the response from CDC. Richard Allen, Chairman of Chalfont St Peter Parish Council explained the Parish Council's position: "It is unfortunate that we have had to take this action as we work closely on many issues with the District Council who generally do good for the community. However, as many will know, the vast majority of residents oppose them on this issue. Following a rigorous and detailed survey of the views of residents of the village, which showed an overwhelming support for a school on the Holy Cross site, and after hearing the concerns from local schools who are seriously short of space, the Parish Council felt obligated to take this action on behalf of the community. If there was ever an example of localism in action, this is it"
If this challenge is successful then the village will get an opportunity for the sort of development it wants on the site whilst retaining the existing village character.
We are anticipating publicity about the case in the local papers and in the Daily Telegraph.
With kind regards
SENSE4CSP
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A further document relating to this matter and giving more background details can be seen by clicking here: More Details
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