Residents of Beachampton, a tiny village in north Buckinghamshire with just 113 inhabitants, are furious over proposals to build 8,000 new homes on their doorstep. The village, which features a church, village hall, and a single shop, was chosen by locals for its idyllic countryside and peace, a stark contrast to nearby Milton Keynes and Buckingham.
Community fears being overwhelmed
Parish councillor Alison Huizeling, who has lived in Beachampton for 10 years, says local concerns have been ignored by county representatives pushing to deliver 90,000 new homes in the region by 2045. "It's not just the aesthetic we're worried about," she told the Express. "It does feel as though our rural community is being taken away from us. But we also just don't have the infrastructure to cope with thousands more homes."
Huizeling highlighted specific issues: "Our sewers are not prepared. And we're in a valley, so we already get water run-off from the surrounding farmland and solar developments. That's only going to get worse." She questioned whether Buckinghamshire Council had properly assessed housing allocation sites or simply selected green areas without further examination.
Lack of consultation
"We weren't consulted on this," Huizeling said. "We don't know anything - it could be starting next year or not until the 2040s. It's been almost impossible to get a clear sense of what the plans are." Residents are alarmed at the prospect of their quiet village life being upended by thousands of newbuilds.
"We haven't got a problem with living in cities and towns - some people want to do that," she added. "But we don't, and that's the reason we're living here. We've got a small, good, tight-knit community, and we might lose that. To more people, more traffic, more noise and less wildlife."
National housing targets
The Labour Government set a mandatory target of 1.5 million homes in England by 2029, equating to over 300,000 annually, divided among local authorities. Housing minister Angela Rayner said the ambition would "tackle the housing crisis" and "get Britain building again". Critics, including the Local Government Association (LGA), have warned the targets are "impossible" to achieve. Buckinghamshire Council has been contacted for comment.
