Archived press release

Date Published: 27/11/07

A major housing development has been given the green light by Aylesbury Vale District Council. Outline planning permission has been granted for 3,000 homes to be built on the Berryfields farmland on the outskirts of Aylesbury. The new developmen...

A major housing development has been given the green light by Aylesbury Vale District Council.

Outline planning permission has been granted for 3,000 homes to be built on the Berryfields farmland on the outskirts of Aylesbury.

The new development area, covering 185 hectares to the north and south of the A41 Bicester Road, will provide a range of facilities to create a new community.

As well as additional educational provision, there are plans for a district centre with shops and community facilities, land for employment uses, play areas and open space.

The development at Berryfields will also benefit from a new transport interchange comprising a railway station, bus based park and ride facilities and around 400 car parking spaces. These improvements tie into the town centre public transport hub which is currently taking shape.

The Berryfields planning application was agreed by AVDC’s development control committee in December 2006, but was subject to planning agreements being signed with the developers. Since then, both AVDC and Buckinghamshire County Council have negotiated with the developers to secure the provision of significant contributions which will enable improvements to services such as highways, public transport, education and leisure.

The first stage of work, scheduled to start within the next few months, will be to improve and create new accesses off the A41 and put in infrastructure such as the main roads, drainage and services.

House-building is likely to start later in 2008 with development continuing on the site for some 10 to 12 years. At least 10 per cent of the homes will be low-cost housing and 30 per cent will be affordable housing (for rent or shared ownership).

Councillor Carole Paternoster, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning at AVDC, said: “It has taken a long time for this new mixed-use scheme to reach this stage, but I’m very pleased that work can now begin on this major project. This development will play an important role in the growth of Aylesbury and will help us achieve our housing targets. Most importantly, Berryfields also includes employment development, so we can secure the new jobs we need in order to create a sustainable community. The new infrastructure secured by this development will bring major benefits to the area.”

Councillor Martin Tett, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning at Buckinghamshire County Council, said: “It’s very important that we balance growth with protecting the environment and providing the essential infrastructure to enable us to develop truly sustainable communities. This agreement will hopefully provide the basis of doing both for the people of Aylesbury.”