Help us to protect the unique nature of the Chesham Bois Conservation area
This website is designed to inform you about the
St Leonard's large scale development and what you can do
LATEST NEWS: Planning Inspectorate to hold a Hearing
Put Tuesday 28th January 2024 into your diaries for the Hearing meeting (time and venue tbc)
The Protect Planning Consultant, Andy Boothby of Bell-Cornwell will represent us at the Hearing
The Protect Planning Consultant, Andy Boothby of Bell-Cornwell will represent us at the Hearing
We have been advised that The Planning Inspectorate have elected to hold a Hearing Procedure on Tuesday 28th January 2025. This is good news! You may recall that we requested a Hearing in our Appeal Letter written on our behalf by Bell-Cornwell.
The time and venue are to be decided, but we will let you know as soon as we hear and would encourage as many of you to attend as possible.
The Protect Planning Consultant, Andy Boothby of Bell-Cornwell will represent us at the Hearing
The Protect Planning Consultant, Andy Boothby of Bell-Cornwell will represent us at the Hearing
The Protect Planning Consultant, Andy Boothby of Bell-Cornwell will represent us at the Hearing
We have spoken to the Protect Planning Consultant, Andy Boothby of Bell-Cornwell, and he is willing to represent Protect at the Hearing. His original Appeal Objection Letter (see below) to the Inspectorate will form the basis for his presentation.
We propose that we major on Andy Boothby of Bell-Cornwell putting our case forward, but this does not preclude others speaking at the Hearing if they wish. The Inspectorate’s letter (also below) provides information on the procedure. If you do wish to speak, it would be helpful if you let us know in advance.
We also anticipate that Chesham Bois Parish Council will speak at the Hearing. They are having a council meeting on Monday 9th to discuss. We are in regular contact with CBPC and will be liaising closely with them.
We need your help
Please contact us if you would like to donate
To engage the Planning Consultant to represent us, we are budgeting between £4,000-£4,500 plus VAT and disbursements. We would therefore welcome your contributions once again (and hopefully finally) towards the cost. As per last time, we suggest £100 per household as a guide for donations. If you want to donate more, or less, that would also be welcome!
Who We Are
Protect Chesham Bois Common & Surrounding Area
As residents of Amersham & Chesham Bois, we highly value and want to protect the unique nature of the Common, the woodland and the buildings that make the heart of Chesham Bois village and surrounding area enjoyable for everyone.
Protect has been working together with the community since 2018 to create awareness of the St Leonard's Church development, provide information & facts, and give guidance on how to object.
The ethos of the Chesham Bois Conservation Area states that as an area of special character and merit it is worthy of preservation or enhancement
We support and are working together with the Chesham Bois Parish Council (CBPC) to protect our unique environment. We will be present on our stand at the Chesham Bois Village Fete on Saturday June 15th from 11.30am - 04.00pm so look out for us and come and have a chat.
The St Leonard's Church Development
The Glebe Way Site
The site is off Glebe Way, on the NE corner of the Common. The existing Village Hall and Rectory will be demolished.
The Proposed Development
The proposed development includes a 275 people ‘Main Hall’ (previously referred to as ‘Worship Hall’), a separate multi-purpose hall with capacity for another 100 people, offices & meeting rooms, a church led café, a separate building for a nursery, a new rectory, a prayer garden with fire pit, and parking for 120+ vehicles.
The impact of the huge scale
This means there could be 400 people on site if all the buildings are used at the same time with 120 plus cars arriving and leaving at the same time.
Background to the planning applications
2018
St Leonard’s started the planning process. They held one consultation meeting which was a presentation, not a forum for listening and consultation. Although they claim to have ‘listened’ to the local community, they have not engaged since, have ignored the points laid out for refusal from Bucks Council, and have never been prepared to compromise the size of the development.
2020
Over 400 objections from the local community were submitted for the first planning application, which Bucks Council unanimously refused
2021
The appeal to the Planning Inspectorate was refused
2022
Chesham Bois Parish Council wrote to every household to establish local opinion. 80% of responses were opposed to the development
2023
St Leonard’s published a sermon with a damming and inflammatory condemnation of the local community for objecting to the development
2024
The second planning application (with minimal change) was refused
THIS IS THE LARGEST DEVELOPMENT IN CHESHAM BOIS FOR OVER 100
This development sets a precedent for future large scale development applications
This would result in increased urbanisation and loss of the distinctive semi-rural character, which we all value highly.
The community is not averse to a sensible redevelopment of the site
We understand the need to refurbish/replace the existing Parish Centre, but not on the huge scale desired by St Leonard's church
The Developers
The site is owned by and is to be developed by the church, NOT Chesham Bois Parish Council
- St Leonard's Church is an Anglican, Evangelical & Charismatic Church that promotes the School of the Prophetic.
- The St Leonard's Rector is a leader in the JESUS MINISTRY group, founded by a couple in Tacoma Washington, USA. Their values include Biblical, Relational, Supernatural, Authentic, Prophetic and Warfare.
- HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, are the project management company working with the church to develop the site. Their international operational headquarters are in Georgia, USA and administrative headquarters are in Atlanta, USA.