Kempson House, Whitchurch: Community Engagement Shaping a Village Housing Proposal
The Challenge
The proposed development at Kempson House West presented an opportunity to deliver 21 new homes on land allocated for approximately 23 dwellings in the Whitchurch Neighbourhood Plan. However, bringing forward housing in the heart of a historic village required careful consideration of local priorities. The site lies close to Grade II listed Kempson House and the Whitchurch Conservation Area, with established trees and landscape features contributing to its setting. For local residents, the issues extended beyond the site boundary. Safe pedestrian routes to Whitchurch Combined School, crossings of the A413, traffic impacts, flooding, green space and opportunities for children’s play were all important concerns. The challenge was to demonstrate that the proposal could meet local housing needs while responding meaningfully to these matters, rather than treating consultation as a procedural exercise. A credible engagement process was therefore central to developing a scheme informed by the people who would experience its effects.
Our Approach
ET Planning supported a consultation-led planning process for Gade Homes, combining ongoing stakeholder dialogue with direct opportunities for residents to comment. Engagement included meetings with the Neighbourhood Plan steering committee and Parish Council, regular contact with local representatives, and a leaflet and questionnaire distributed to approximately 108 households in January 2025. A public exhibition followed at St John’s Hall on 27 February 2025, attended by local residents and councillors. Feedback helped shape the submitted proposals alongside formal pre-application discussions with Buckinghamshire Council. The scheme incorporated a package of proposed pedestrian and crossing improvements, including a High Street zebra crossing upgrade and safer connections towards the school and bus stops. Design refinements also provided more open space and a local play area, strengthened planting and heritage buffers, and reduced the number of homes from the neighbourhood allocation of approximately 23 to 21. The resulting planning submission documented how community concerns had been considered and translated into specific design and infrastructure responses.
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