Amersham Lidl plans rejected to protect town centre housing site

Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, confirmed the refusal following an assessment that deemed the supermarket proposal contrary to established local planning policy. The site, which holds a prominent position in the town, has been the subject of shifting development interests since its initial sale by the council last year.

Key points of the planning decision

Policy Conflict: The application was found to be unacceptable and in direct opposition to local planning guidelines regarding site usage.
Housing Priority: The council maintains that the location is best suited for high-density residential development to meet local supply targets.
Developer Shift: The site was originally sold with the understanding it would host a housing-led scheme, including affordable units.
Legal Duty: The council sold the asset in 2025 under its legal obligation to achieve the best financial value for taxpayers.

Site timeline and disposal history

Milestone	Detail
Asset Disposal	Site sold by Buckinghamshire Council in 2025
Original Intent	Housing-led scheme with affordable homes
Current Status	Supermarket planning application refused
Future Goal	Residential development in line with adopted policy

Planning policy conflict on the King George V site

The refusal centers on the specific designation of the former King George V site within the local plan. Under current Buckinghamshire planning frameworks, town-centre locations are increasingly protected for mixed-use or purely residential developments to combat the regional housing shortage. The council’s assessment concluded that a large-scale retail unit like a Lidl supermarket would not represent the most appropriate use of this specific land.

Planners argued that the site represents a finite opportunity to deliver “much-needed homes” for the Amersham community. By introducing a supermarket instead of residential units, the proposal was seen as a move that would undermine long-term strategic goals for the town’s urban core. This policy-led rejection highlights the council’s rigid stance on maintaining the site’s potential for housing.

The 2025 disposal and shifting developer intentions

The history of the site’s ownership played a role in the council’s public stance on the refusal. When Buckinghamshire Council sold the land in 2025, it did so under a legal duty to achieve the best value for the asset. At that time, the purchaser explicitly stated an intention to pursue a housing-led development. This original plan included provisions for new affordable homes, which aligned with the council’s aspirations for the area.

However, the site was subsequently sold on to another party, leading to the alternative proposal for a Lidl store. Peter Strachan expressed the council’s disappointment regarding this shift in direction. While the planning application had to be assessed on its own merits regardless of the change in ownership, the deviation from the original housing intent has clearly informed the council’s broader perspective on the site’s future.

Future prospects for Amersham housing supply

Despite the rejection of the supermarket, the site remains a focal point for development in Amersham. The council continues to view the location as a prime opportunity for residential growth. Any future applications for the site will likely need to align closely with the adopted planning policy that favors housing over commercial retail space.

Local residents and stakeholders are now looking to see if the current owners will revert to a residential scheme or appeal the council’s decision. The council remains firm that housing represents the most appropriate form of development for this location, emphasizing the need to support local housing supply in the heart of the town. The site remains vacant as the community awaits a proposal that meets the council’s policy requirements.

Source: Buckinghamshire Council