Council approves demolition of garages for housing project in Princes Risborough

Buckinghamshire Council has granted Red Kite Community Housing Limited permission to demolish 26 garages at the end of Clifford Road and build five two-storey houses.

The development will comprise five two-bedroom homes, alongside 12 parking spaces, private amenity areas, landscaping and dedicated cycle and bin stores.

The garages date from the 1950s and 1960s and are understood to have remained vacant since around 2018. Red Kite submitted its application in August 2024, but planning permission was not issued until August 10, 2026, almost two years later.

Plans for five three-bedroom homes were previously approved at the site but were never built. Several residents objected to the latest development, raising concerns about parking, congestion near Princes Risborough School, flooding, overlooking and the loss of trees and wildlife habitat.

In their objection, neighbours Mr and Mrs D Walker pointed out that the design and access statement referred to 14 parking spaces, although the approved layout provides only 12, including two visitor spaces.

They described the visitor provision as “totally inadequate” and said three pairs of tandem spaces would be “unpopular, impractical and under-utilised”.

They added: “The plot is simply too small to support 5 houses and their associated parking requirements and needs to be redesigned to fewer properties and realistic parking facilities.”

The couple also raised concerns about possible damp and flooding from the proposed soakaway, the loss of trees and hedgerow, light pollution and maintaining access to their rear drive and garage.

Buckinghamshire Council’s highways officer said the 12 proposed parking spaces were “more than sufficient”, although the case officer acknowledged that some tandem parking was “less than ideal”.

Officers also concluded that the five homes would generate fewer vehicle movements than the site’s lawful use as 26 garages. The council’s report said: “The proposed development would accord with the relevant development plan policies.”

It added that the council could not demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land, meaning greater weight should be given to the delivery of new homes.

The site is adjacent to the Chilterns National Landscape, but officers said the development would be seen as part of the existing urban area and would not harm its setting or enjoyment.

An archaeological investigation scheme must be agreed before development begins because prehistoric or Roman burials could be present beneath the site.

Other conditions require Red Kite to submit detailed drainage and landscaping schemes, install wildlife-sensitive lighting and prepare a construction traffic management plan.

Access must also be maintained to the rear of properties in Clifford Road and Merton Road while construction takes place.