The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met on Wednesday 28 October 2026. The committee considered two planning applications. One application, for 280 Main Road, Walters Ash, was for the demolition of existing commercial buildings and redevelopment into a mixed-use development comprising a ground-floor retail unit and four residential flats. The officer's recommendation was to be minded to approve, with the decision delegated to the Head of Planning, subject to the satisfactory resolution of surface water drainage issues and the imposition of conditions. The other application, for 147 Wycombe Lane, Wooburn Green, was for the demolition of the existing dwelling and its replacement with six new dwellings, along with associated access and landscaping. The transcript and minutes do not contain a record of the committee's decision on this application.

280 Main Road, Walters Ash

The committee considered the application for the demolition of existing commercial buildings at 280 Main Road, Walters Ash, and their redevelopment into a mixed-use development comprising a ground-floor retail unit and four residential flats on the first floor. The officer's recommendation was to be minded to approve, with the decision delegated to the Head of Planning, subject to the satisfactory resolution of surface water drainage issues and the imposition of conditions. This decision was made subject to the satisfactory resolution of surface water drainage issues and the inclusion of specific conditions.

The application followed a previous refusal for a similar development in July 2023, which was subsequently dismissed on appeal. The inspector at the time upheld concerns regarding the impact on neighbouring residential amenities due to overlooking and noise and disturbance from the retail use. The current application sought to address these concerns by increasing separation distances for first-floor windows, reducing the number of rear-facing habitable room windows, and submitting a noise impact assessment.

During the debate, councillors discussed the previous appeal decision and the inspector's findings. Councillor Alex Collingwood proposed refusing the application, citing concerns about noise and disturbance from the retail unit's extended operating hours and the inadequacy of the noise impact assessment. This motion was not seconded. Councillor Mark Turner proposed an amendment to restrict the retail unit's opening hours to 10 pm, which was accepted by the committee. The final decision was to approve the application with this amended condition, along with other standard conditions.

The approved development includes a 279 square metre retail sales area and 135.5 square metres of storage. The residential element comprises two one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats. The design is contemporary, featuring brick on the ground floor and grey cladding on the upper floor, with a green roof and solar panels. The scheme also incorporates landscaping, new trees, and biodiversity enhancements.

Concerns were raised by residents and Hughenden Parish Council regarding overdevelopment, impact on the Chilterns National Landscape, highway safety, parking, and residential amenity. The Highway Authority raised no objection, subject to conditions. The Lead Local Flood Authority initially objected due to insufficient information on surface water drainage but later withdrew their objection, subject to updated confirmation from Thames Water and satisfactory calculations. Environmental Health raised no objection in principle, subject to conditions relating to construction hours and operational nuisance management.

147 Wycombe Lane, Wooburn Green

The transcript and minutes do not contain any discussion or decision regarding the application for 147 Wycombe Lane, Wooburn Green. Therefore, the committee's decision on this application cannot be summarized from the provided evidence.