Wing Community Unites Against New Town Plans at Packed Public Meeting

Residents and local representatives discuss the impact of Buckinghamshire Council’s Draft Local Plan

Residents were joined by parish representatives, Buckinghamshire councillors and the local Member of Parliament to discuss the potential impact of the proposals and the importance of responding to the current public consultation.

The Wing New Town Action Group would like to thank everyone who attended, contributed questions or helped organise the event. The turnout demonstrated the depth of concern across Wing and surrounding villages.

The group also apologises to anyone who could not get into the hall or struggled to hear or see the presentation because of the number attending.

Action Group presents the case against Wing New Town

The meeting was opened by Wing New Town Action Group member David Varey, who welcomed attendees and introduced the evening’s speakers.

Roger Carey then delivered the main presentation on behalf of the Action Group, setting out the scale of Buckinghamshire Council’s proposals and why the group believes Wing is the wrong location for development on this scale.

The presentation covered the proposal for at least 1,630 new homes, the potential for more than 8,000 additional daily vehicle movements, pressure on schools, healthcare and local services, and concerns about whether the necessary infrastructure could be adequately funded and delivered.

It also highlighted potential harm to the rural landscape, productive agricultural land, wildlife sites, historic assets and the setting of All Saints Church and Castle Hill.

The central message was clear: the Action Group believes this is the wrong village, the wrong site and the wrong plan.

The meeting also heard that the Diocese of Oxford owns the land proposed for development. The Action Group has already engaged with representatives of the Diocese and will continue raising its concerns.

Roger also explained the consultation process and why individual representations to Buckinghamshire Council are important.

Buckinghamshire Council representatives address the meeting

Cllr Julie Ward and Cllr Michael Bracken, Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning, then addressed the meeting.

Cllr Ward said she opposed the proposed development and referred to her own experience of large-scale development proposals affecting her community.

Cllr Bracken explained that he was speaking as an elected councillor rather than a planning officer and stressed that residents could influence the process through consultation responses.

His description of Wing as a town was challenged by those present. He was also questioned over why Wing had been selected when Buckinghamshire Council’s own assessment referred to a population threshold of at least 5,000, while Wing’s population is around 3,000.

Wing Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan

Helen Sunday, Chair of Wing Parish Council, spoke about work being undertaken through the Wing Neighbourhood Plan to establish a positive vision for Wing based on appropriate and sustainable development.

She also highlighted support from Buckinghamshire Council’s heritage officer, who is strongly opposed to the development. The meeting heard that work is being funded to update and expand the Wing Conservation Area to better reflect Wing’s historic setting.

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP pledges her support

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP spoke in support of residents opposing the proposed Wing and Cheddington development sites.

She highlighted the concentration of proposed development in the north of Buckinghamshire and told the meeting that around one third of the county’s proposed new housing falls within her constituency, a level she considered inappropriate.

She said she shared the concerns being raised by local communities and would continue supporting residents as they challenged the proposals.

Residents raise serious concerns

The formal presentations were followed by an open question-and-answer session, with residents and representatives from neighbouring communities raising a wide range of concerns.

One detailed challenge focused on inaccuracies within the NESS appraisal material used to assess Wing. Issues raised included:

• The site covering two Landscape Character Areas rather than one.

• Wing having two GP surgeries rather than the single surgery referred to in the assessment.

• The absence of protected views to and from All Saints Church and Castle Hill.

• Agricultural land being described as lower quality despite the latest DEFRA mapping identifying Grade 2 and 3a land within the site.

Cllr Bracken was unable to explain the discrepancies during the meeting. He was approached afterwards and apologised for the errors, saying they should not have been made.

Other concerns included the cumulative traffic impact of proposed development at Wing, Cheddington and Linslade; pressure on local water supplies and the water table; and access to Leighton Buzzard railway station, including parking capacity and the lack of a safe walking or cycling crossing over the A4146.

Attendees also thanked the Wing New Town Action Group for organising the meeting and for the work already undertaken.

A strong message from the discussion was that communities affected by major development proposals should support one another, as traffic, infrastructure and environmental impacts extend beyond parish and council boundaries.

Community urged to respond to consultation

David Varey closed the meeting by confirming that the Wing New Town Action Group, working alongside Wing Parish Council, would be preparing a formal representation in response to the Draft Local Plan.

Roger Carey warned residents that developers, landowners and professional planning consultants are also likely to submit detailed representations supporting development.

The Action Group’s formal submission will set out the detailed planning case against Wing New Town, but it must be supported by individual responses from residents.

The group will continue publishing guidance, supporting evidence and practical tools to help residents prepare their own consultation responses.

Residents can follow developments at:

Website: www.stopwingnewtown.org.uk
Facebook: @stopwingnewtown
Instagram: @stopwingnewtown

The public consultation closes on 6 September 2026, and representations must be submitted by that date.

Residents are also encouraged to continue asking neighbours, friends and family to sign the petition. However, signing the petition or supporting the campaign on social media is not enough on its own. Anyone concerned about the proposals should also submit their own formal representation to Buckinghamshire Council.

Wing New Town can still be challenged, but the community must act now.