New homes and open 
space in Beaconsfield

While the site currently lies within the Green Belt, it has previously been identified in Green Belt reviews (2016 and 2017) as having potential for development and was draft allocated in the previously withdrawn Buckinghamshire Local Plan.

In addition, in December 2024 the Government introduced a new concept of Grey Belt. Grey Belt includes land which meets a series of criteria and can be considered as acceptable for development.

We believe that this site meets those criteria. It is visually contained and located on the town’s edge, close to existing services and facilities.

No. Every site must be considered on its own merits. This site is unique in its location, visibility, containment, and the ability to deliver genuine community benefits, including affordable homes and new green space. If accepted, would not set a precedent for other Green Belt sites being developed.

Buckinghamshire, and in particular the former South Bucks area, has one of the lowest housing land supplies in the Country and there is desperate need for new homes to meet the needs of people who want to live in the area, but can’t.

We believe that this site can help deliver some of these homes, ahead of the Local Plan review which has been heavily delayed and is not due for adoption for some time yet.

We’re working on a comprehensive access strategy and will assess local traffic impacts from the proposals at nearby junctions, including the M40. This work will include local junction modelling to identify necessary improvements, also taking into account traffic from nearby sites in the area. Our strategy will also explore improvements to pedestrian, cycling and public transport infrastructure to reduce the pressure on the local road network. Infrastructure pressure is real – but so is the need for well-planned growth.

In addition to providing much-needed private homes, 50% of the site will be affordable housing to meet the needs of all locals. In addition, we are proposing improved walking/cycling connections from this area into the Old Town, and will deliver public open space which can be used not just by residents of the proposed development, but the wider existing community.

The main vehicle access to the site is proposed from Hedgerley Lane and via Cross Lane/Windsor End.

Cross Lane would be widened to allow two-way traffic and include a separate foot/cycleway to one side.

The design of the road will discourage use of Lakes Lane by future residents, with the junction designed so that trips towards Windsor End are encouraged.

Modelling of the highway impacts from the development is ongoing alongside discussions with the Council’s Highways department.

Where necessary, we will undertake improvements to junctions surrounding the site to ensure that the road network can safely accommodate the development.

Pedestrians and cyclists would have use of this road without restriction. Emergency vehicles would be able to use it to access the site in the event the main access is blocked, and some physical barrier would be in place (likely a lockable bollard) to prevent general vehicular use.

We are in the process of preparing a Traffic Impact Assessment which will quantify the potential car, pedestrian, cycle and public transport trips generated by the site and determine their impact.

The methodology for determining how many trips the site could generate will be agreed with Buckinghamshire Council but at this stage we anticipate it is most likely to be based on surveys of other developments as well as travel data on how locally people choose to travel, e.g., proportions travelling by car, on foot, by bicycle and by public transport.

The improvements to Cross Lane include a new foot/cycleway which would extend along part of Windsor End.

Improvements to foot and cycle infrastructure surrounding the site are being investigated and will be delivered as part of a comprehensive package to ensure the site is as sustainable as possible.

We are still at a very early stage of developing our proposals and so this hasn’t yet been considered. However, Redrow is part of the Considerate Contractors scheme, and we take our relationship with local residents very seriously. We would therefore propose a route which results in the least amount of disruption. This would be enforced using a Construction Traffic Management Plan which would be submitted and agreed with Buckinghamshire Council in advance of construction starting.

We are still at a very early stage of developing our proposals and therefore detailed site layout has not been fully considered.

However, where possible, we try to ensure that main roads within our developments are built to adoptable standards.

Parking provision on site for cars and cycles will be provided in accordance with local parking standards set by the Council.

We understand that the site is likely to increase the amount of traffic using Windsor End which may be a concern on market days. We will be undertaking a traffic impact assessment to quantify this impact and will be modelling local junctions to understand whether improvements are necessary. A Residential Travel Plan will also be implemented to encourage residents at the site to walk and cycle to the market.

We are aware of proposals by others in the area that could also affect the local transport networks in Beaconsfield. We are in discussions with Buckinghamshire Council to agree how we ensure that the cumulative impact from development in the area will be captured within our impact assessment work.

An extensive ecology strategy is underway, with mitigation for badgers, reptiles, and other habitats. We’re retaining veteran trees, respecting the locally listed 1930s farmhouse, and keeping heritage considerations central to the design.

Our proposals are landscape-led which means we are looking to retain nearly all of the existing trees and woodland on the site. The masterplan has been developed to ensure that development on the site sits harmoniously alongside the existing trees.

We have ecologists who work alongside us within the project team to ensure that the development will achieve a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity. This will be achieved through a combination of on-site habitat creation, habitat creation elsewhere on The Hall Barn Estate and, only, if necessary, through the purchasing of off-site credits from habitat banks within the Buckinghamshire area.

We have undertaken all necessary ecology surveys and the ecologists who are working alongside us have provided recommendations for protecting species present on the site. These measures have been incorporated into our current masterplan.

The Masterplan currently proposes a series of connected green spaces which would be open for public use. We haven’t yet finalised the details of these, but the open space would be a mixture of formal grass areas for things like ball games, children’s play areas and more natural green space.

The site, currently not open for public use, would be available for all as part of the development.

We are at a very early stage of preparing our scheme and therefore, this level of detail has not been finalised.

Our Drainage Consultant has been reviewing historic flood mapping from all sources, including surface water flood risk and modelling future flood risk, accounting for climate change.

Our proposals would ensure that any development parcels are out of flood risk areas, including through limited land raising, and attenuation basins on the site will be large enough to accommodate the surface water run off of the most extreme weather events.

Sustainable Drainage Systems will be used on the site to intercept surface water run-off and hold it so that it discharges from the site at a controlled rate. This will ensure that there is no flooding created by the development.

Where possible, we are looking to improve flooding events that currently occur, particularly along Hedgerley Lane.

All homes will be designed in line with Redrow’s award-winning Heritage Collection. That means high-quality materials, thoughtful detailing, and timeless character – designed to complement the style of Beaconsfield while delivering the standards of a modern, energy-efficient home.

Redrow is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2045. We are committed to evolving our designs and features to meet our ongoing sustainability targets.

We were the first large housebuilder to introduce air source heat pumps as a standard across all detached homes on our new developments, a pioneering shift from traditional gas boilers.

Redrow has been named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Sustainable Companies in 2024, after a rigorous process.

Noise monitoring has taken place and the project team has modelled likely noise impacts on the development. Through careful design and appropriate mitigation, future occupiers would not be subject to unacceptable noise impacts.