Nexus Planning has helped win an appeal for the development of assisted living units and a care home near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, after satisfying the new ‘golden rules’ for development in the green belt. This makes the care community one of the first major housing schemes permitted at appeal since the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) last December.
The appeal was made on behalf of Beechcroft Developments for the proposed scheme of 95 assisted living units and a 75-bed care home on a 2.2-hectare site at Wilton Park, Gorell Road, Beaconsfield.
The proposal, which also includes communal facilities, vehicular and pedestrian access, internal roads, landscaping, drainage and other associated works, replaces prior plans for sports pitches, which will instead be relocated to Glory Hill, adjacent to Beaconsfield.
The appeal outlined that the care community development would not cause substantial harm to the openness of the Green Belt, in line with the latest NPPF (2024), and would address a critical need, set against a backdrop of an “exceptionally poor” housing land supply position in the former South Bucks part of Buckinghamshire. Furthermore, it would meet the affordable housing, infrastructure and green space objectives of the Government’s new golden rules.
Ollie Bell, Director of Nexus Planning, comments: “It’s fantastic to be part of this appeal, which is one of the first major housing schemes allowed in the Green Belt at appeal since the Government published the revised NPPF. The scheme will deliver urgently needed new dwellings consisting of specialist housing for older people, and will also help release homes back onto the general market. In this particular case, it was pleasing to see the Inspector agreed that 15% affordable housing was sufficient to satisfy the Government’s golden rules.”