Builder loses latest appeal over land at Valley Farm

Paul Newman Homes made a bid to the Court of Appeal regarding the site at Valley Farm - arguing unsuccessfully that the Planning Inspectorate and a previous High Court judge misinterpreted the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF) when rejecting their scheme for 50 homes in September 2019.

On Tuesday, January 12, the court upheld the previous judgement, stating "there is nothing inherently unfair to an applicant or contrary to the overall scheme of the NPPF or the 2004 Act".

It marks the latest blow for Paul Newman Homes' long-term campaign to build on the site, which has provoked a determined local campaign to preserve it.

Leighton Linslade Town Councillor Clive Palmer said: "Like a lot of people, I hope this is indeed the end of the road and that this area will become protected. The developer had every right to lodge an appeal, but I'm delighted with the court's judgement.

"It's been a long, long haul. I can remember going to the original hearing at Aylesbury Vale to speak about this application before I was ever elected to the town council. The tenacity of people around here to stop an unwanted development has borne fruit and this is a good outcome."

In February 2016, Paul Newman Homes' plan to erect 300 homes at Valley Farm was refused by Aylesbury Vale District Council, with the impact on the landscape cited as a serious factor. An earlier application to erect 900 homes on the same site was rejected back in 2012. Both rejections were upheld by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal.

South West Beds MP Andrew Selous described Paul Newman Homes' interest in Valley Farm in 2015 as "the planning application that refuses to die", adding it caused anxiety "every time it rears its ugly head".

Regarding this latest refusal, Mr Selous said: “What part of the word 'no' do they not understand?"

Paul Newman Homes was contacted by the Leighton Buzzard Observer, but declined to comment.