Developer appeals to inspectors over rejected plan for retirement flats and bungalows in Milton Keynes

The site is at the corner of Lavendon Road and Warrington Road and is the piece of land next to the town’s new Sainsbury’s.

But councillors, at a meeting in November last year, voted overwhelmingly to throw out the plan because it was at odds with what the people of Olney wanted the land used for.

The Olney Neighbourhood Plan, narrowly approved in a referendum, has earmarked the land for “retail” and objectors did not believe the owners had done enough to market it to other shops.

The development control committee meeting at the time was told that Sainsbury’s has a covenant on the site stopping another supermarket from using it.

The landowner, Tony Williamson, of Angle Property (Olney) told the committee that no retailers had shown any interest.

He and retirement living developer, McCarthy & Stone, had submitted a scheme for 48 retirement flats and 10 bungalows on the 0.86 hectare site. They told the committee that there is demand for older person’s housing in the town.

But the committee voted to reject the scheme, quoting the neighbourhood plan.

Now Angle Property and McCarthy & Stone have lodged an appeal with the government’s Planning Inspectorate to decide.

They say that the council was too slow in coming to a decision and have called for a public inquiry to be held in front of a planning inspector.

In lodging their appeal on Monday (Feb 17) they told the planning inspectorate that they want to call three witnesses and want to inquiry to last between three and four days.

The planning inspectorate says it will make a decision on how the appeal will be heard after hearing from both sides.

Councillors had voted overwhelmingly to refuse the plan.

You can read our report of November's meeting here: https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/politics/council/retirement-flats-plan-near-milton-keynes-thrown-out-being-wrong-place-wrong-time-1304385