BROWN NOT GREEN
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Brown Not Green Chesham Ltd (aka “BNG”)

A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee created by the community to protect Green Belt land around Chesham, Bucks


Brown Not Green Chesham Ltd 
​A not-for-profit community company 
created to protect Green Belt land around Chesham, Bucks


Submit

 PUBLIC INQUIRY - (21st -29th March, 2023)
Buckinghamshire Council are convening 
a non-statutory public inquiry to consider BNG’s applications under s.15 of The Commons Act 2006, to have the Land at Lye Green designated as a Town or Village Green (TVG).

The Public Inquiry is being held at: 

Flaunden Village Hall
Birch Lane
Flaunden
HP3 0PT


The Public Inquiry is currently on until Wednesday 29th March before an independent expert barrister (Mr Daniel Stedman Jones of 39 Essex Chambers Chancery Lane London).

The public are allowed to attend the Inquiry to listen to the proceedings and the timing of the Inquiry sessions are normally between 10.00am and 5.00pm.
There will also be an evening session on Wednesday 22nd March, 6.00pm until 8.00pm.


WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?-
The full background is within the archived pages of this website. By way of a brief summary, this all started in 2015 when circa 148 acres of good quality farmland at Lye Green NE of Chesham was proposed for removal from Green Belt and allocated for development by the former Council. Initially, half the land was proposed for circa 900 new homes, a convenience store, community hub and for 15 gypsy pitches.

​This generated considerable public concern and the face of community representations made by BNG on behalf of our 1,800 supporters, the former Council withdrew their Local Plan in October 2020. However, Land Registry records confirm that a large national housebuilder still has an option over most of this land and as Buckinghamshire Council indicate that another Local Plan is under preparation, the threat remains. BNG are therefore now seeking to have the Land designated as a Village Green.
 

WHAT IS A VILLAGE GREEN AND WHY ARE BNG SEEKING ONE?-
The statutory test is that “a significant number of people in the locality have used the land for lawful sports and pastimes over the last 20 years”. Some 230 local people who have lived nearby for more than 20 years, have now provided statements confirming their habitual recreational uses of the land for a variety of informal outdoor recreational uses including dog walking, jogging, walking with friends and family, cycling, children playing, picking blackberries, mushrooms etc..

​For legal reasons, BNG were prohibited from making a Village Green application until the former draft Local Plan was withdrawn. Village Green designation is not planning policy (which can be overturned in very special circumstances) and so if granted it will protect the Land as it is unlawful to “interfere” or develop a Village Green.


Brown Not Green YouTube channel is now live.

Please subscribe and share. PowerPoint with narration video by Phillip Plato, BNG Chairman, on public update/'What is a Village Green' is live.
​

https://youtu.be/VmKylde05ZI
https://www.youtube.com/@brownnotgreen-chesham
 

​

Background

South Bucks and Chiltern District Council's withdrawn Local Plan included the removal of 60 hectares of agricultural land from Green Belt to the North East of Chesham and initially for building:
​
  • 500 homes
  • a community hub
  • a 5,000 sq ft shop
  • fifteen gypsy pitches

This is despite the land once being listed as an Asset of Community Value.
​Click here for BACKGROUND and HISTORY of the Brown Not Green (BNG) Campaign including video and audio clips
  • See how you can help BNG
  • Donate funds for legal and professional fees​​​
Brown Not Green (BNG) think Brownfield land has not been fully explored for local housing need and that Green Belt land should not be looked at as a first choice for development when other less harmful options exist nearer the town centre and the Underground station.  

BNG believe the Council have used flawed methodology for identifying  sites to meet local housing need and that Lye Green is an unsustainable  location.  BNG ask how land can be listed as an Asset of Community Value on one hand but have its Greenbelt status taken away on the other hand.  Read how the Council have sinced shamelessly revoked ACV Status to try and push their flawed Local Plan through.

BNG support the more sustainable alternatives promoted by Chesham Renaissance CIC Masterplan (another community lead group).  This would not only provide more affordable housing but would regenerate the town centre too whilst creating less traffic congestion.
​BNG feel the Council's Plan will cause harm to the wider town: 
  •  more traffic congestion
  •  worsening air quality
  • flooding from surface water
  • loss of land with Community Value which supports wildlife & recreation
  • outward sprawl of the town and the coalescence of  Lye Green into "Greater Chesham".​

View BNG's Reg 19 Submission Response and supporting documentation here

Did you miss the Open Meeting held at the Memorial Hall Ley Hill on Wednesday Night, June 5th, 2019? 
​Click here to watch the presentation

Chiltern & South Bucks Local Plan Withdrawn Oct 2020 
Click here for news item
​This was a big battle won in a long war.  The Greenbelt around Chesham is safe for the time being but BNG will continue to work to protect the Greenbelt to the North-East of Chesham so that it cannot come under threat again.  Much on this website is now redundant but we will keep this site going as a record of our campaign that may help other residents' groups who are facing the same challenges that we have over the last five years, 
​Thanks to everyone who has helped us reach this point.
​
​




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  • Home
  • About
    • What Was Proposed?
  • Donation Refund policy
  • Archived Pages
    • Gate Owners' Prescriptive Rights
    • Fundraising
    • What you can do >
      • Public Rights of Way
  • Upcoming Events
    • News
  • Link Page
  • Contact
    • History
    • Local Plan Examination
    • Asset of Community Value
    • Professional Advisors >
      • Three Minute Survey
      • Old Home Page