SLOUGH Borough Council (SBC) will object to neighbouring authorities Chiltern and South Bucks' local plan, after feeling ‘ignored’.

At last Wednesday’s planning committee meeting Slough councillors unanimously agreed that the two other councils have not engaged enough with them.

The problem has arisen over an agreement Slough councillors say was reached between the three councils to form a ‘garden suburb’ where homes will be built on a greenbelt site in South Bucks to make up for lack of space in Slough to meet that borough's growing housing demand.

The agreement was called the 'northern expansion' and apparently envisaged 15,260 homes  to be built by 2036 in the South Bucks district.

But Slough councillors say that no meetings have been made between the authorities to discuss the proposal since September 2017.

Slough representatives will meet their neighbours at a local plan examination meeting on March 17, where they will express concern over the lack of consultation.

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Other concerns were raised about Chiltern and South Bucks District Council’s planned new existence as a part of the unitary authority, New Buckinghamshire Council - something that could leave the local plan in limbo.

Councillor Pavitar K. Mann, lead member for planning and regulation, said: “It’s really unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation, but it’s absolutely vital that Slough’s views and representations are perfectly heard.”

A spokesperson from South Bucks and Chiltern Councils said: “South Bucks District Council has engaged and met regularly with Slough Borough Council throughout the preparation of the local plan under its Duty to Co-operate.

“This has involved numerous discussions with Slough BC, including consideration of the option of a Northern Expansion of Slough.

“There has never been an agreement to the so-called Northern Expansion area and in fact this was ruled out of the Local Plan as it involved the loss of land in the Green Belt which performs strongly against the purposes of the Green Belt.

“It is most disappointing the Slough Borough Council has chosen to reverse its position on the Duty to Cooperate, given that the Councils have been engaged on this issue for such a long time.”