Second legal challenge launched over Holy Cross
CHALFONT St Peter parish council has launched a challenge over a government decision to approve a controversial planning scheme, which would allow 200 homes to be built in the village.
In November last year, the government's planning inspector gave the green light to a Chiltern District Council policy which would let the unpopular scheme go ahead.
The parish council has submitted their challenge to the High Court because they believe that the plan is not in the best interests of the village.
The challenge is based on the fact that the proposal overturns the existing planning rules for the site, which would allow existing school buildings which are there to be knocked down and replaced by homes.
The parish council believes that any new development at the Grange should provide school facilities and so they have made the challenge.
Richard Allen, vice chairman of the parish council, who is working on the challenge, said: "Since the very beginning, when the Grange was first suggested as a site for development, we highlighted the obvious fact that this was an opportunity to redesign Chalfont St Peter.
"Rather than just dump uniform development in one site we'd like to see a well planned, mixed development that takes into account the present and long term future needs of the community."
The parish council has lent its backing to a scheme by developers Arrowcroft which would see homes being built at the site but also the Chalfont St Peter Academy making use of the existing school facilities at the site.
John Hatton, parish council chairman said: "We think [the Arrowcroft plan] is a win, win for everyone and we hope that Chiltern District Council and the religious order that own the land will see what we are trying to achieve here and realise it's worth."
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Very pleasing indeed to see the second appeal go in. The Chalfont St Peter Academy is overfull already let alone with extra load from new housing. The existing school buidling and sports area at Holy Cross site are a once in a generation opportunity for local schooling to have facilities they require and deserve. Should this opportunity be missed it is clear satement that the core needs of the local community form no part of the decison process, and are considered irrelevant. Hopefully sense will prevail and the mixed development will be approved.