Communities secretary Greg Clark has stepped in to stop the approval of plans for 130 homes in Buckinghamshire.
Despite a conflict with the neighborhood plan, which did not allocate the site for development, Aylesbury Vale District Council planning officers had recommended the plans for approval. However, a council spokesman confirmed the Secretary of State had instructed the council to not grant permission and therefore the committee could not form a decision.
A planning officer's report said that the benefit and harm of the proposed development were finely balanced, but they were willing to recommend approval on the national policy of presumption in favour of sustainable development. The officer said in their planning report that the scheme would lead to loss of open countryside with local adverse impact. The report also said the houses were much needed in the district, and the construction work would boost the local economy.
The plan goes to referendum later this month.
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