Date at last for decision on '˜parasitic' housing scheme

Aylesbury Vale District Council confirmed to the LBO today that the scheme would go before its Strategic Development Management Committee this month.

Developers Paul Newman Homes recently submitted a further detailed planning document to Aylesbury Vale District Council, despite it applying for planning permission over a year ago.

The consultation process had been due to end in the summer but was extended having attracted over 600 letters of objection.

Campaigner Tom Daly said: “Finally we have the long awaited date for the decision by AVDC whether or not Paul Newman Homes may, or may not, destroy the beautiful landscaped Valley Farm area in Linslade.

“Our local action group, and of course the many local residents, have been fighting these plans for many years, and our many objections were backed up by the last appeal inspector who threw the last application out.

“Our objections, which are backed up by official bodies, are that any housing development on this site would be totally unsustainable and therefore have to be parasitic on the rest of Linslade, it would be against local, regional and national guidelines , would devastate an area of high quality and delicately balanced landscape, (as designated by AVDC itself), would set a terrible precedent for all green area around Leighton inside the Bypass, and as stated by the joint committees of both Beds and Bucks “ Virtually all land to the West of Linslade is just not suitable for development”!

“We have every chance of sending this builder and his outrageous application, packing, as we did last time. If you would like to show your support then we’ll see you there.”

In 2010, Paul Newman Homes submitted a planning application to build 900 houses.But despite having had the plan turned down and then losing an appeal, it decided to present “a carefully-designed and sustainable scheme” to change the minds of residents and councillors.