Daws Hill area
The RAF Daws Hill site off Daws Hill Lane was closed as an operational defence establishment in 2007. The site has recently been sold to the developer, Taylor Wimpey.
The current planning position
As the RAF Daws Hill site is a previously developed ("brownfield") site the principle of development on the site is accepted.
Over the last two or three years we have been working with the highway authority - Buckinghamshire County Council - to consider (and consult) on whether "greenfield" land adjoining the RAF Daws Hill site, called Abbey Barn South, should be released for development as well RAF Daws Hill to form a more comprehensive development area. This would involve releasing the Abbey Barn South site, an identified "reserve site" for development, earlier than is required.
At a Cabinet meeting in July 2011, we agreed a position statement on housing and land for business which set out our position on this issue alongside other issues. It concluded that, from the work undertaken to date and the evidence available to it, there is currently not the overriding case for the early release of the Abbey Barn South site for development alongside the RAF Daws Hill site. Unless very significant additional benefits can be clearly demonstrated our preferred approach is to see the development of just the RAF Daws Hill site while ensuring that development on the site is designed in such as a way as to enable integration of any future development on the Abbey Barn South site.
The position statement sets out principles for how the RAF Daws Hill site should be developed. Relevant extracts from the position statement are available to download at the bottom of the page.
During the production of the Wycombe Development Framework (WDF) a number of technical studies were produced to advise and support the WDF. One of these technical studies was the M40 Gateway area, which includes the Daws Hill area. These technical studies can be viewed under the M40 Gateway heading on other area technical studies.
Pre-application process
It is anticipated that Taylor Wimpey will commence "pre-application" discussions shortly in preparation for submitting a planning application. We are very keen to see full community consultation prior to the submission of a planning application and ensure that the local community are aware of emerging proposals. To assist with this process, we are establishing the Daws Hill area reference group.
The purpose of the Daws Hill area reference group will be to act as a channel for communication and member and community involvement. This will help create a formal and transparent process that will enable the developer, the council and community to share views and concerns.
The reference group has a membership of 17 people. It includes three representatives from the Daws Hill Residents Association and a representative from the FFSA (Fair Ridge, Foxleigh and Spinney) Residents Association, the Flackwell Heath Residents Association; the Heart of Ryemead Community Association (HORCA), the Little Marlow Parish Council and the Chepping Wycombe Parish Council.
The reference group will meet at two monthly intervals. Developers in the area will be given the opportunity to directly address the group. The reference group will not have any decision making powers.
The planning authority proposes to enter into a planning performance agreement with Taylor Wimpey. Such agreements set out procedural matters relating to the pre-application and planning application process and at a national level have proved to be an efficient way to progress development proposals.
Daws Hill Residents Association Application to designate a Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum
Daws Hill Residents Association have made an application to be designated as a neighbourhood forum, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012. They have also applied to designate a neighbourhood area. If a designation is made, no other organisation or body may be designated for that neighbourhood area until that designation expires or is withdrawn.
We are consulting with residents and other interested stakeholders on both the neighbourhood forum and neighbourhood area applications until 29 June 2012. Find out more about neighbourhood area and forum applications.