PLANS to construct a farmworker's house on land which has only had two houses built there since the introduction of the Domesday Book have been greeted with opposition.

An outline planning application was made to Wycombe District Council to build the house in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Whitehouse Lane, Penn.

Councillors at the planning applications panel on Wednesday (Dec 20) received letters from the Council for the Protection of Rural England and the Chiltern Society objecting to the plans. In all 15 letters of objection were received.

Mr Hopkirk, who lives on the land, said: "This is a unique 300-acre patch of land. It is the last bastion dividing High Wycombe and Beaconsfield and has been completely unspoilt for hundreds of years.

"Only two buildings have been on it since the Domesday Book. A brand new house will completely change the character and nature of the whole area plus it will create more traffic.

"An alternative, less sensitive location has not been considered in my opinion. A site visit by members is absolutely essential. I plead that the application is not approved. The location is one of the most conspicuous, not the least."

Mr Taylor, speaking on behalf of applicants C&M Pitcher, said: "It has been a long process, over two years now, to get the application to this stage. It is not an application you have considered lightly. It is a good, large agricultural concern and an appropriate development according to the local plan. Only a very small section of hedgerow would be removed to provide access."

Cllr Bruce Holland (Con, Bledlow-cum-Saunderton) said: "It came to me that if these people were so concerned about this particular application to send me all this paperwork I think it is something which we ought to look at in the form of a site visit."

Councillors voted to visit the land before making a decision.