Chiltern Hills Academy, Chesham

Vincent and Gorbing were instructed to provide planning advice and public engagement services to BAM Construction Ltd on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council for development at Chiltern Hills Academy, Chesham.

Prior to Vincent & Gorbing’s engagement, a previous application for a similar development had been unsuccessful. It was therefore imperative for us to identify and resolve the objections previously raised and formulate an appropriate planning strategy. The educational needs of the school dictated that two applications would be required, one for temporary classrooms and one for the permanent expansion of the school, including 2335sqm of new extensions within the Green Belt and adjacent to an AONB.

The scheme involved balancing the educational needs of the school against the environmental constraints of the site, as well as public objections relating to residential amenity and highways.

The applications were unanimously approved at Buckinghamshire Council Strategic Sites Committee following extensive negotiations with statutory consultees and planning officers.