PLANS to provide 300 homes on Park Mill Farm in Princes Risborough came under the spotlight at a public inquiry into the the town's additional housing needs.

The inquiry, as part of Wycombe District Council's local plan, was set up to hear objections to the allocation of houses as well as allowing the council to put its side of the case.

At the inquiry on Tuesday, Geoff Salter, the inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, heard objections into the district council's plan to put 300 houses on Park Mill Farm, one of two greenfield sites in the local plan, west of the railway line, by 2011.

Under new Government density guidelines, this would go up to 570 houses after 2011.

Peter Thompson, chairman of Risborough Area Residents Association (RARA), told the inquiry that two surveys of all residents in Risborough and surrounding areas were conducted by RARA.

He said the survey, conducted in January 2000, found that 77 per cent of people wanted a maximum of 200 houses but within the present boundary, perceived to be the railway line.

Mr Thompson said: "If the allocation proceeds, it will become a commuter town, subject to continued traffic congestion, with unattractive conditions for those living in, shopping in and visiting the area."

He added that building on the site would set a precendent and lead to further houses built beyond the railway line.

Mr Thompson was backed by resident Gordon MacDonald, of Stratton Road, who also said an urban capacity study should have been conducted.

But Morag Ellis, counsel for the council, said a letter accompanying the survey made clear RARA was already against the decision to build houses on Park Mill Farm. She added that traffic constraints would mean other sites would not be able to be developed.

Miss Ellis said: "In our submission, the boundary of the site is logical and by careful landscaping, it can form an adequate and sometimes advantageous boundary."

David Allworth, chairman of Princes Risborough Town Council, argued that the district's original plan to put 650 houses on the Park Mill Farm and Oak Tree Farm should be reinstated.