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

SUPPORT OUR VILLAGE GREEN APPLICATION:
BNG made an application in October 2020 to have the Green Belt land around Lye Green NE of Chesham, registered as a Village Green under s.15 of the Commons Act 2006.
Buckinghamshire Council announced in April 2022 that BNG have submitted sufficient evidence to convene a Public Inquiry later in 2022 to decide if this Village Green application is justified. 

HOW CAN YOU HELP? – Please complete our online Public Support questionnaire for this Village Green proposal which can be found at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NM4K6I/ [ The supporting survey maps of the “Locality” can be found here and the Parish Ward Map can be found here. Please also consider donating funds to cover the cost of BNG’s legal representation at the Inquiry.
To donate by BACS visit https://www.brownnotgreen.com/fundraising.html or to donate via credit card visit our JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bngvillagegreen

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? - The background to this long running matter can be read below and within this website and goes back to 2015 when the land was first proposed for removal from Green Belt and development by the former Council. Most people understandably may have now assumed this threat to Lye Green was over when in 2020, in the face of considerable opposition and criticism, the Council withdrew their last draft Local Plan that included proposals to remove circa 148 acres of good quality farmland from Green Belt and to allocate (initially) half the land for development of circa 900 homes, a convenience store and for 15 gypsy pitches. However, Land Registry records confirm that a large national housebuilder still has an option over most of this land and given Buckinghamshire Council website in 2022 advises that their next Local Plan is under preparation, the threat to this area of Green Belt NE of Chesham remains.

WHY ARE BNG SEEKING TO HAVE LYE GREEN REGISTERED AS A VILLAGE GREEN? – Well the statutory test is to demonstrate that “a significant number of people in the locality have used the land for lawful sports and pastimes over the last 20 years”. Over 50 people who have lived nearby for more than 20 years, have already provided statements. The BNG application is therefore based on evidence that has accumulated during our campaign that has revealed that between 260 to 400 people have been using the land every day for decades for a variety of informal outdoor recreational uses including dog walking, jogging, walking with friends and family, cycling, children playing, picking blackberries etc. For legal reasons, BNG were prohibited from making a Village Green application until the former draft Local Plan was withdrawn.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER? - If Village Green status is granted, it WILL effectively sterilise the land from all future development as it is unlawful to interfere with or drive vehicles upon a Village Green.


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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:
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  • 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
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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