A plea to stop 1,500 homes being built on ‘an important green lung’ for Maidenhead is set to be heard by councillors next week.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition asking councillors to stop an estate known as The Elizabeth Quarter being built on Maidenhead Golf Course. The petition is to be presented to a full council meeting at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on Wednesday, July 17.

It says: “Maidenhead Golf Course occupies 132 acres of council-owned green open space, of which 40 per cent is woodland, including five acres of ancient woodland.

“This important area of open green space was bought by the council in 1953 to preserve it as an ‘open space’ for the people of Maidenhead.”

It adds: “We ask our council to respect this action, place the correct value on the land as green open space and protect Maidenhead golf course from development for the benefit of people and wildlife.”

Property developer Cala Homes applied to the council for planning permission for the development in January this year.

The project would involve building both a primary and a secondary school on the golf course site, which is near the town centre and to the south of Maidenhead train station.

It would also have its own ‘local centre’ to support the new residents, with small-scale shops, a cafe and other amenities.

Cala Homes says understands the importance of the site to neighbours – and says it plans to protect and open up green space.

A spokesperson for Cala Homes said: “We understand this is a site that means a great deal to the local community.

“Our aim is to create a sensitive, landscape-led development, which retains and protects as many precious natural features as we can, opening up access to green spaces for the whole community to enjoy, while delivering the new homes Maidenhead desperately needs.”

But the petition argues that woodland and habitats would be destroyed if the development is allowed.

It says: “If the woodlands and green space of the golf course are protected from development, the people of Maidenhead will have the opportunity to use this space in the best way possible for their sustainable future and wellbeing.

“This could include tree planting and habitat improvements for nature recovery, water storage, environmental education, community activities and amenity.”

Councils can only decide to refuse planning applications on the basis of their own planning policy and national planning rules. The application is still pending assessment by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

A council spokesperson said: “A planning application has been submitted by Cala for consideration by the council on its individual merits, in line with planning policy.”