®Planning appeal decision
Sovereign Heights, First Avenue, And Land To Rear Of 37-47 Chequers Hill, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 9BL
Planning appeal 3319006 at Sovereign Heights, First Avenue, And Land To Rear Of 37-47 Chequers Hill, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 9BL (Buckinghamshire Council - Chiltern Area *) was dismissed on 26 January 2024 by Inspector Shearing C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: effects on the Chiltern Beechwood Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
demolition of existing Sovereign Heights property and provision of 8 two-storey semi-detached (2 bedrooms) on land combined with rear of plots 37- 47 Chequers Hill
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Shearing C
- Postcode
- HP7 9BL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- effects on the Chiltern Beechwood Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
- effects on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties, with particular regard to the outlook and privacy of the occupants of 37-47 Chequers Hill and 1 Stanley Hill
- effects on the character and appearance of the area (Appeal A only)
- effects of the proposal on the living conditions of occupiers of Moreton House and 25 West Acres, with particular regard to disturbance (Appeal A only)
What decided it
The proposals cannot be established with the necessary level of certainty to avoid adversely affecting the integrity of the Chiltern Beechwood SAC due to incomplete mitigation measures and unidentified suitable alternative greenspace sites.
The benefits of housing delivery, including family homes in a built-up area with good accessibility and economic benefits, were outweighed by the substantial and potentially long-lasting conflict with the development plan and Framework arising from impacts on the internationally designated SAC.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS24 of the Core Strategy for Chiltern District 2011Policy GC3 of the Chiltern District Local Plan 1997 including alterations of 2001Policy GC1 of the Chiltern District Local Plan 1997 including alterations of 2001Policy H3 of the Chiltern District Local Plan 1997 including alterations of 2001Policy CS20 of the Core Strategy for Chiltern District 2011
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 186
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Buckinghamshire Council - Chiltern Area
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed24 September 20263363978Southering, Deadhearn Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, HP8 4HG
- Dismissed24 September 20263363975Southering, Deadhearn Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, HP8 4HG
- Dismissed20 May 20263376094Mortimer House, Village Road, Ballinger, Buckinghamshire, HP16 9LQ
- Allowed19 May 2026337438827 Piggotts End, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 0JF
- Dismissed27 April 20263375617Land Rear of - 21 Chapman Lane, Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire, HP10 9AZ
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.