The East & South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on 9 December 2025, and approved two planning applications: the change of use of a Grade II* listed building in New Denham and the demolition of an existing dwelling and erection of four detached dwellings in Gerrards Cross.

Planning application for 2 Oxford Road, New Denham

The committee approved the application for a change of use from a restaurant (E Class¹) to two residential flats in a Grade II* listed building at 2 Oxford Road in New Denham. The application also included internal alterations and the replacement of an external door with a window.

The planning officer's report [Public reports pack] noted that the ground floor of the building had been vacant for over five years, and that the proposed change of use aligns with the local development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The report also noted that the application had been called in by Councillors Bracken, Broom and Chhokar, and that Denham Parish Council supported the call-in.

The committee voted to approve the application, subject to an amendment to Condition 2 and the removal of Condition 4. Condition 2 required that details/samples of all new materials, internal and external, to be used in the development be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing. Condition 4 stated that once the structure is exposed, should any structural defects be noted to the historic timber, these should be reported to the Local Planning Authority for approval to confirm the state of the timbers and their features.

The Council's Heritage Officer reviewed the submitted information and acknowledged that the proposal would result in a change of use, but also that the proposal would bring the ground floor into a residential use which would provide an incentive to ensure the ground floor of the listed building is maintained and conserved in the long run, by being a more suitable viable use in this location.

The planning officer's report [Public reports pack] stated that a detailed marketing statement had been submitted in support of the application by the applicant, stating that the ground floor commercial unit has been vacant since 2020. The statement highlighted that the applicant had made efforts to secure a viable commercial user, but that the viability of the existing commercial floorspace was negligible in the current market.

Planning application for The White House, Lower Road, Gerrards Cross

The committee approved the application for the demolition of the existing dwelling and erection of four detached dwellings at The White House, Lower Road, Gerrards Cross.

The planning officer's report [Public reports pack] noted that the application followed a previously refused application, ref. PL/24/1061/FA, which proposed the erection of six dwellings. That application was refused on the grounds that it would have resulted in a much denser form of development than was typical of the locality and failed to be sympathetic to the existing character of the area. It was also refused on the grounds that a planning obligation to secure the necessary contribution towards the Burnham Beeches mitigation strategy².

The current application differed from the previously refused scheme by virtue of a reduction in the number of dwellings being provided from six to four. This was achieved by changing the two buildings sited at the front of the site from two pairs of semi-detached dwellings, to two single detached dwellings.

The planning officer's report [Public reports pack] stated that the applicant had agreed to complete a planning obligation to secure the necessary contribution towards the Burnham Beeches mitigation strategy.

The committee voted to approve the application in accordance with the officer's recommendation. Mr M Longworth spoke on behalf of the applicant.