Plans to overhaul former tobacco machine factory near Aylesbury withdrawn

Plans to overhaul part of a former tobacco machine factory site for houses have been withdrawn – amid claims the developer is ‘hiding something’.

Greystoke and ERLP have retracted an outline planning application for part of the former Molins Tobacco Machinery site on Haw Lane in Saunderton.

It had outlined the demolition and clearance of the existing industrial buildings (2,245 sqm) to allow for a residential redevelopment of up to nine new market houses.

Vehicle access off Haw Lane, internal roads, a public open space, and parking was also planned.

And while no explanation of the recent withdrawal is given by Greystoke and ERLP, one local claimed the developer had submitted a “misleading” application and that it may be looking to put up to 180 homes on site, given the number of hectares it owns.

They said it should outline its full intention, adding locals might be in favour because “something needs to be done with the site”.

The site of the former cigarette making machine manufacturer has lay in ruin for years.

Most of the industrial buildings were removed as part of planning consent for a 78,000 sqm data centre, which was never built.

A planning application for the demolition of all remaining buildings and construction of 212 properties was unsuccessful in 2015. A subsequent appeal was dismissed in 2017.

In 2020, developer St. Congar also revealed it had planned to bring an application for 130 homes.

Also, in December last year, workman for TMT Construction confirmed they had been hired to clear the site when asked what they were doing.

Mr Lewis Stringfellow from Saunderton: “This planning application is a misleading document, which should be treated as such.

“This application…should be reviewed on the basis that on one hectare the applicant is looking to erect nine houses.

“I believe that their documentation highlights that they own around 20 hectares and may be looking to develop around nine times 20 hectares [which] equals 180 houses on this site.

“Greystoke should provide an outline of what their plans are for the whole site. It could be that the local community would be happy with it.”

He added: “We all know that something needs to be done with the site. What is on offer is not an acceptable approach.

The current approach just means that there is distrust right at the start of the process, as why would you do it this way unless you have something to hide?”

“I write formally to acknowledge this application has been withdrawn,” the council. “No further action will be taken, and no formal decision will be made on it by the authority.”

The developer was approached for comment.