‘We are committed to listening carefully’: Diocese responds to plans for more than 1,000 new houses in Wing

A public meeting held at Wing Village Hall on August 2, organised by the Stop Wing New Town Group, was attended by more than 400 people, with people listening from the car park as the venue was at full capacity.

The land for the site, which covers 96 hectares and is located to the north-west of the village, is owned by the Diocese of Oxford, which told us it “recognised the possibility of significant development near Wing is causing concern locally”.

A spokesperson for the diocese said: “We understand why residents are asking questions about what this could mean for the future of the village.

“Before making any plans we want to understand what local people’s priorities and concerns are.

"We put forward this land to the local authority for consideration through the Local Plan process. At this stage, we have made no decisions about the scale, form or timing of any potential development, and there are currently no detailed proposals for the site.

“We are committed to listening carefully as the planning process develops."

Among those present at the public meeting in Wing were Aylesbury MP Laura Kyrke-Smith and Buckinghamshire Council’s deputy cabinet member for planning Michael Bracken.

Speaking publicly about the application before the meeting, Ms Kyrke-Smith said she was concerned the application was a ‘fundamental alteration’ to the village’s character, while an attendee at the meeting told us afterwards ‘it seems to be the wrong plan in the wrong place.’

Explaining why it chose to provide the land for the development, the diocese said: “As a charity, the diocese has a responsibility to consider opportunities relating to land it owns and to act as a responsible steward of its assets.

“The diocese must also consider how it can best serve the communities it is part of.

“There is a significant need for more homes across Buckinghamshire, including affordable homes for local people.

“Using land owned by the diocese to help meet this need is one way we can contribute positively to the future of local communities.

“Any development would deliver high-quality, well-designed and sustainable homes, while considering the impact to the local area, including community needs, the environment, heritage and the infrastructure required to support a growing population.”

The Stop Wing New Town Group has claimed the proposed development would ‘obliterate the rural setting of a scheduled ancient monument and Grade I listed building’ – All Saints Church.

The diocese said: “All Saints Church is an important part of Wing's identity, history and community life.

“Any future proposals would need to take proper account of the church, its setting and its significance, both in terms of historical and community importance.”

A petition, started by the Stop Wing New Town group, which calls for the Wing proposal to be refused, has attracted 1,480 signatures.

Responding to the diocese’s comments the Stop Wing New Town group said: “We welcome the diocese’s recognition that local people have genuine concerns, but its statement leaves one important question unanswered: why this site?

“The proposed Wing site would permanently develop around 225 acres of best and most versatile agricultural land, immediately beside All Saints Church and the scheduled monument at Castle Hill.

"This landscape contains protected views to and from both heritage assets. Once this historic landscape is built over, it cannot be restored.

"The Church of England’s own guidance on managing glebe land says decisions should balance financial returns with food production, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, community value and climate resilience, with these considerations embedded into decision-making.

"Elsewhere, the church's policy document on selling land for housing states adherence to core values which include homes that are 'truly affordable', sustainable, and in harmony with the local environment - only 25 per cent of houses in Wing New Town will be affordable.

"Local people are therefore entitled to ask whether the diocese reviewed all of its land holdings against these principles before promoting this site, and whether lower-quality agricultural land was considered.

“No one disputes that Buckinghamshire needs more homes - but this is clearly not the right place for them.”

Buckinghamshire Council is currently consulting on its Draft Local Plan, including the proposal for up to 1,630 new homes in Wing.

The consultation is open until 11.59pm on Sunday, September 6 and can be accessed via Buckinghamshire Council’s online consultation portal.

Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at https://www.yourworld.net/submit/ It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.