Beeches Park adjacent Amersham Road and Minerva Way, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Proposed New Homes and Public Open Space
Evolution Of Our Proposals
The first round of public consultation finished in June 2024. A further round of consultation was held during October/November 2024 providing an opportunity to comment on the updated designs.
Our latest proposals have evolved since the original application submitted in 2021 by The Portman Estate.
The changes have been influenced by the feedback from the public consultation process, pre-application discussions with the Local Authority and dialogue with a range of other stakeholders, as well as the result of technical investigations and design development.
In summary these changes include:
- 25% reduction in the number of homes proposed (now 330 compared with 450 previously)
- Increase in the proportion of affordable housing, now comprising 50% of the homes proposed
- Changes to the tenure of the affordable housing to include more homes for ‘social rent’ (set at around 50% of market rents)
- Incorporation of a residential care home
- Increased public open space and play provision including a community nature reserve
- Revised community building and mobility hub facility
- Enhanced energy and sustainability specification for the new homes
Outline Planning Application
Currently, we are preparing an outline planning application for the site which totals 57.6 acres (23.3 hectares).
An outline planning application seeks to establish whether the scale and nature of a proposed development would be acceptable to the local planning authority, before a second fully detailed planning application is put forward, which is called a Reserved Matters application.
Where outline permission has been granted, an application for the outstanding reserved matters can be submitted, i.e., the information excluded from the initial outline planning application. This will typically include information about the layout, landscaping and appearance of the development. No development can take place on site until the Reserved Matters application has been consented.
Statutory consultees for example the Environment Agency and the Highways Authority, and local residents will also have the opportunity to formally comment on the applications once they are submitted and registered with Buckinghamshire Council.
An outline application is a standard way of dealing with planning, and the granting of an outline planning permission does not preclude local stakeholders from commenting on a Reserved Matters application at a later stage in the planning process.
What Is Affordable Housing?
We are keen to hear from young professionals and key workers who are looking to get on the housing ladder in Beaconsfield, contact us at info@catesbyestates.co.uk or fill in our HAVE YOUR SAY FORM.
50% of the homes proposed will be affordable housing, comprising a mixture of affordable homes for rent and affordable routes to home-ownership (such as shared ownership or rent to buy).
Affordable housing includes homes for sale or rent and is for people whose needs are not met by the private market. This includes local residents most in need, including lower income households and key local workers who are forced to live further away and commute due to property prices and relative wages.
Affordable need and housing delivery in Buckinghamshire
Our research indicates that affordable housing delivery across Buckinghamshire has only been 12% of all housing delivery and South Bucks have only delivered an average of 16 affordable dwellings per annum since 2011/12. There is a minimum shortfall of 3,397 affordable dwellings across Buckinghamshire.
As a consequence, the waiting list for affordable housing across Buckinghamshire has increased to nearly 6,000 households as of 2023 and the average wait for a property of 3 or more bedrooms is more than two years.
How to access affordable housing
How people access affordable housing depends on its tenure.
Generally, Local Authorities are responsible for allocating affordable housing for rent. In many instances, they will require that a local connection is demonstrated for someone to be eligible for a home. In some cases, applicants must have lived in the local area for a minimum of two years and these homes may be offered to applicants who can demonstrate family ties to the local area, or to people who previously lived in the area.
Other types of affordable housing, such as shared ownership, are generally open to anyone and can be applied for directly, subject to affordability checks.
Planning Background
In 2022, The Portman Estate’s appeal against the decision of Buckinghamshire Council to refuse planning permission for the redevelopment of the land at Beeches Park, (adjacent to Amersham Road and Minerva Way) Beaconsfield was dismissed.
Having reflected on the Appeal Decision the Portman Estate is now looking to move forward with a different approach for the redevelopment of the land.
To facilitate this, the Portman Estate has selected Catesby Estates, a specialist land promoter, to prepare and progress revised proposals for the site.
Catesby Estates are one of the UK’s leading strategic land promoters, focusing on the delivery of residential planning permissions with a strong emphasis on sustainability and good design.
Ed Barrett, Area Planning Director for Catesby Estates said; “We will be seeking to work closely with Buckinghamshire Council, Beaconsfield Town Council and other local stakeholders to bring this site forward to deliver a sensitively designed and sustainable residential development.”
“This site has the potential to deliver community facilities and new homes including affordable housing, in an area where over the last year the average house price is four times the UK average.”
During March 2024 Catesby Estates submitted an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) screening request to Buckinghamshire Council to determine whether a future revised planning application would require an Environmental Impact Assessment or not.
The reference number for this is PL/24/0950/EIASR.
More information is available on the Council’s website at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/ and selecting either the Chiltern or South Bucks local area link.
Our Approach To Public Consultation
Catesby Estates help deliver sustainable developments and homes where people have the opportunity to take their first steps on the housing ladder, buy a family home, or downsize.
Our developments help maintain and enhance the vitality of existing communities through job creation and socio-economic growth.
Considerations for the environment and sustainability are at the forefront of our decision-making process. For example electric charging points, early landscape planting and biodiversity improvements are just some of the features included in our sites.
All our sites provide policy compliant levels of affordable housing, and significant public open space as a key feature.
We consult with leading ecology and landscaping experts to ensure ample public space is provided within developments for both residents and local wildlife to flourish.
By approaching residential development in the right way, we can leave a positive legacy for a local community
We look to involve the community at an early stage, so they can help inform our final proposals, helping to underpin the vision of our developments.
We are always happy to engage with local residents, community groups, elected representatives and other key stakeholders.
This enables us to better understand the local issues and seek to offer real tangible benefits to the local community.
You can contact us using the 'CONTACT US' button on this web page or via email at info@catesbyestates.co.uk or via telephone on 01788 726810.
Site Specifics
57.6 Acre Site (23.3 Hectares)
Delivery Of New Homes For The Area
New Homes. Up to 330 new homes ranging from 1 to 5 bed, houses and apartments. This represents a 25% reduction in the number of homes proposed in the 2021 planning application (450 homes previously).
The proposals now also include a residential care home development (of up to 60 bedrooms), located to the north of the site.
Affordable Housing. 50% of the homes are to be provided as affordable housing.
This represents a 10% increase from the previous planning application. In addition there will be changes to the tenure of the affordable housing to include more homes for ‘social rent’ (which is set at around 50% of market rents).
Public Open Space. There are significant areas of new public open space proposed across the site. including equipped and natural children’s play areas.
The majority of the existing site is currently private land, which means there is no permitted public access.
As part of the development proposals circa 55% of the site will comprise green space (equating to circa 13 hectares), the majority of which will benefit from public access.
Significant areas of new public open space and children’s play area will be delivered as part of the proposals, providing attractive leisure spaces and helping to promote healthy lifestyles.
These new public open spaces could include:
Community Park - flexible space designed to encourage both future and existing community to come together to enjoy hard standing open plaza space, equipped play area, amenity grassland with space for informal ball sports, then with more naturalised areas to the edges.
Minerva Way Greenspace - set running parallel with the historic route of Minerva Way, a naturalistic area of open space along the southern edge of the development including potential new allotment areas
Southern Neighbourhood Space - positioned to the south of site, a green space incorporating new tree planting and low level hedges with play areas suitable for younger children.
Allotments. Community allotments incorporated and integrated as part of new public open space proposals.
Community Wildlife/Nature Reserve. A 6 hectare area running parallel and along the full length of the boundary with Eastern Relief Road.
Community Hub. Situated adjacent to the new park, the Community Hub will act as focal point for the development, connected and adjacent to the main active travel corridor running through the site.
This fully flexible community space could include shared spaces and facilities for people who work from home, to a community cafe or yoga studio. The hub could also include a car share club, cycle hire and parcel locker services to help reduce vehicle trips.
The intention is for the community and recreational facilities to be managed by a Community Trust that will give the existing community direct control over these facilities, their management and future adaptation.
Highways and Access. Access to the site will be provided via new junctions formed with the Beaconsfield Eastern Relief Road and Amersham Road.
These accesses will serve vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists and will be compliant with local and national design guidance. There will be no vehicular link between the Relief Road and Amersham Road within the site.
We are seeking to promote walking and cycling, with improved connections to Beaconsfield town centre and the railway station, therefore reducing reliance on the car. Additional points of pedestrian and cycle access will be provided onto the Beaconsfield Eastern Relief Road, Amersham Road and Minerva Way.
It is envisaged that the proposals will include a high quality on-site network of walking and cycling routes that will in turn link to improvements for pedestrians and cyclists on the surrounding highway network including on and off road routes and crossings.
Flooding and Drainage. The site is in Flood Zone 1 which is land at the lowest risk of fluvial (river) flooding.
Ecology. Habitats of ecological value within the site, such as woodland, mature trees and ponds will be retained and protected.
A substantial green buffer of semi-natural habitat is to be delivered next to the central woodland corridor to provide protection to woodland habitats, and offer opportunities for protected species such as reptiles, birds and invertebrates.
We are seeking to create new ecologically valuable habitats, and improve management of existing habitats, as well as public open space for residents.
Ecologically valuable habitats will increase biodiversity and improvement of existing habitats will offer opportunities for protected species, as well as areas for new residents to use.
New habitats will include mixed scrub, wildflower meadow and new tree planting.
Climate Change And Sustainability. Homes both new and existing account for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.
To mitigate climate change, as well as help keep down household energy costs, the proposed homes will include low carbon renewable energy technologies such as air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic panels (PV) and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Heritage and Archaeology. No designated heritage assets are located within the site.
The southern part of the site is within the historic extent of Wilton Park, a 18th/19th century park associated with the now-demolished Wilton Park house.
However, the park is much altered and only fragmentary elements remain. Minerva Way, at the southern site boundary, follows the route of a historic park drive but is now an engineered road.
The archaeological potential of the site has been assessed through desk-based assessment, geophysical survey and trial trench evaluation.
Evolution Of Our Proposals
The first round of public consultation finished in June 2024. A further round of consultation was held during October/November 2024 providing an opportunity to comment on the updated designs.
Our latest proposals have evolved since the original application submitted in 2021 by The Portman Estate.
The changes have been influenced by the feedback from the public consultation process, pre-application discussions with the Local Authority and dialogue with a range of other stakeholders, as well as the result of technical investigations and design development.
In summary these changes include:
- 25% reduction in the number of homes proposed (now 330 compared with 450 previously)
- Increase in the proportion of affordable housing, now comprising 50% of the homes proposed
- Changes to the tenure of the affordable housing to include more homes for ‘social rent’ (set at around 50% of market rents)
- Incorporation of a residential care home
- Increased public open space and play provision including a community nature reserve
- Revised community building and mobility hub facility
- Enhanced energy and sustainability specification for the new homes
Outline Planning Application
Currently, we are preparing an outline planning application for the site which totals 57.6 acres (23.3 hectares).
An outline planning application seeks to establish whether the scale and nature of a proposed development would be acceptable to the local planning authority, before a second fully detailed planning application is put forward, which is called a Reserved Matters application.
Where outline permission has been granted, an application for the outstanding reserved matters can be submitted, i.e., the information excluded from the initial outline planning application. This will typically include information about the layout, landscaping and appearance of the development. No development can take place on site until the Reserved Matters application has been consented.
Statutory consultees for example the Environment Agency and the Highways Authority, and local residents will also have the opportunity to formally comment on the applications once they are submitted and registered with Buckinghamshire Council.
An outline application is a standard way of dealing with planning, and the granting of an outline planning permission does not preclude local stakeholders from commenting on a Reserved Matters application at a later stage in the planning process.
What Is Affordable Housing?
We are keen to hear from young professionals and key workers who are looking to get on the housing ladder in Beaconsfield, contact us at info@catesbyestates.co.uk or fill in our HAVE YOUR SAY FORM.
50% of the homes proposed will be affordable housing, comprising a mixture of affordable homes for rent and affordable routes to home-ownership (such as shared ownership or rent to buy).
Affordable housing includes homes for sale or rent and is for people whose needs are not met by the private market. This includes local residents most in need, including lower income households and key local workers who are forced to live further away and commute due to property prices and relative wages.
Affordable need and housing delivery in Buckinghamshire
Our research indicates that affordable housing delivery across Buckinghamshire has only been 12% of all housing delivery and South Bucks have only delivered an average of 16 affordable dwellings per annum since 2011/12. There is a minimum shortfall of 3,397 affordable dwellings across Buckinghamshire.
As a consequence, the waiting list for affordable housing across Buckinghamshire has increased to nearly 6,000 households as of 2023 and the average wait for a property of 3 or more bedrooms is more than two years.
How to access affordable housing
How people access affordable housing depends on its tenure.
Generally, Local Authorities are responsible for allocating affordable housing for rent. In many instances, they will require that a local connection is demonstrated for someone to be eligible for a home. In some cases, applicants must have lived in the local area for a minimum of two years and these homes may be offered to applicants who can demonstrate family ties to the local area, or to people who previously lived in the area.
Other types of affordable housing, such as shared ownership, are generally open to anyone and can be applied for directly, subject to affordability checks.
Planning Background
In 2022, The Portman Estate’s appeal against the decision of Buckinghamshire Council to refuse planning permission for the redevelopment of the land at Beeches Park, (adjacent to Amersham Road and Minerva Way) Beaconsfield was dismissed.
Having reflected on the Appeal Decision the Portman Estate is now looking to move forward with a different approach for the redevelopment of the land.
To facilitate this, the Portman Estate has selected Catesby Estates, a specialist land promoter, to prepare and progress revised proposals for the site.
Catesby Estates are one of the UK’s leading strategic land promoters, focusing on the delivery of residential planning permissions with a strong emphasis on sustainability and good design.
Ed Barrett, Area Planning Director for Catesby Estates said; “We will be seeking to work closely with Buckinghamshire Council, Beaconsfield Town Council and other local stakeholders to bring this site forward to deliver a sensitively designed and sustainable residential development.”
“This site has the potential to deliver community facilities and new homes including affordable housing, in an area where over the last year the average house price is four times the UK average.”
During March 2024 Catesby Estates submitted an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) screening request to Buckinghamshire Council to determine whether a future revised planning application would require an Environmental Impact Assessment or not.
The reference number for this is PL/24/0950/EIASR.
More information is available on the Council’s website at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/ and selecting either the Chiltern or South Bucks local area link.
Our Approach To Public Consultation
Catesby Estates help deliver sustainable developments and homes where people have the opportunity to take their first steps on the housing ladder, buy a family home, or downsize.
Our developments help maintain and enhance the vitality of existing communities through job creation and socio-economic growth.
Considerations for the environment and sustainability are at the forefront of our decision-making process. For example electric charging points, early landscape planting and biodiversity improvements are just some of the features included in our sites.
All our sites provide policy compliant levels of affordable housing, and significant public open space as a key feature.
We consult with leading ecology and landscaping experts to ensure ample public space is provided within developments for both residents and local wildlife to flourish.
By approaching residential development in the right way, we can leave a positive legacy for a local community
We look to involve the community at an early stage, so they can help inform our final proposals, helping to underpin the vision of our developments.
We are always happy to engage with local residents, community groups, elected representatives and other key stakeholders.
This enables us to better understand the local issues and seek to offer real tangible benefits to the local community.
You can contact us using the 'CONTACT US' button on this web page or via email at info@catesbyestates.co.uk or via telephone on 01788 726810.
We appreciate you will have your own thoughts on what's happening locally to you and we welcome your comments.
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