- You can view the fundraising page hosted by locals here.
The goal is to raise £10 million to save one of the last remaining green spaces in their neighborhood.
Residents in Hazlemere and the vicinity of Holmer Green in Buckinghamshire have joined forces to resist local developers, who have begun excavating land around the subject field, formerly designated as greenbelt, known as Tralee Farm.
Hawridge Strategic Land Limited was granted permission by Buckinghamshire Council in August 2024 to construct 87 homes on the site.
However, Havridge has now put the four-hectare site on the market for sale. Bids must be submitted by 12:00 PM on February 14, but local residents are hoping their efforts will produce a successful outcome.
Residents nearby said in an interview with MailOnline that they would not have purchased their homes if they were aware the local council allowed construction companies to acquire nearby rural land.
They claimed their homes had lost £100,000 in value, and neighbourhood developments had already led to wildlife destruction.
They are now attempting to gather sufficient funds to safeguard the remainder of the land from real estate developers.
Local mother-of-three Susan Jamson, 74, said: "This is utterly appalling. It's green fields and horses. The prices of all our properties have plummeted."
We purchased the house under the assumption that the green belt would never be developed. We wouldn't have made the purchase if we had been aware this development was planned.
We acknowledge that they require residences, but initially, they should focus on constructing properties on previously developed land or brownfields.
If you intend to construct homes in the conservation area, please do not place an army-style facility adjacent to our property.
She asserted that the council downgraded the land to greenbelt designation in 2019.
Now, they are facing a strain on local services as the villages of Hazlemere and Holmer Green are becoming increasingly intertwined.
She said: 'Both sites are in Hazlemere, but to access Tralee Farm, you need to go through Holmer Green.'
Although Holmer Green is a distinct village, it serves an essential purpose: to act as a green belt, thereby preventing the uncontrolled expansion of urban development.
When she became aware that the property was available for purchase, she stated that the community exclaimed,
Susan's neighbor, 56-year-old Penny Harris, lives just a few houses away. The garden of her home faces the fields where Tralee Farm is located.
In this area, property developer Bellway Homes is currently in the process of site excavation.
In place of the lush, rolling hills that are characteristic of Buckinghamshire's countryside, her view is now one of desolation and devastation.
There was a scenic area covered in trees and it was indeed very beautiful.
'That's precisely why we purchased this residence. It didn't offer much in terms of a garden, but we appreciated the fact that there was a pleasant view to gaze out upon.'
I conducted a search on the property and the result indicated that there were no plans to develop on the land.
I had only just settled in when it began.
The beautiful green field beside my house has been turned into elevated hills and gigantic, unsightly holes.
Last year, a highly destructive fire burned for approximately one month and afterwards, for the first time in decades, her neighbors experienced flooding.
They accuse the development, which has removed a significant portion of the trees and local wildlife, of being responsible for the situation.
Penny stated that Bellway Homes began digging right next to her window, merely four feet away when her grandson was playing outside.
She expressed her puzzlement at the fact that the roads were so inadequately maintained that it would be practically unmanageable to navigate through them during peak hours in the mornings.
One of her neighbors stated: "The properties will be located in Hazlemere, but they will utilize the amenities provided by Holmer Green."
Every aspect of this is overflowing. People worry there's going to be an abundance of new homes and that there won't be sufficient schools or infrastructure improvements.
Residents require housing, but the extreme overcrowding is what's causing the greatest frustration.
They will have traffic going up and down the back of their gardens.
Independent Buckinghamshire Councillor Ed Gemmell, 57, is currently spearheading an initiative to acquire Tralee Farm to safeguard one of the area's very last remaining green open spaces.
It's absolutely appalling. We are genuinely frightened. That's precisely why we're attempting to purchase it.
They're ravaging the previously protected green belt and not even incorporating the needs and preferences of local residents.
Residents stated they do not desire increasingly large residences; instead, they want to downsize.
We face a challenge both in terms of our limited timeframe and budget.
'The estimated cost is ten million pounds. This is a considerable amount of money for a community group to gather within a short timeframe, but we're going to attempt to raise it.'
'That entails identifying high net worth investors who are interested in supporting us, particularly environmentally-conscious developers, if the opportunity presents itself.'
Let's explore the possibility of acquiring it and safeguarding the green area.
If we have to build upon it, let's create something that aligns with the community's aspirations and the vision for the future that's unfolding.
The representative of Hawridge Land, which owns Tralee Farm, stated that they would not consider selling the property to residents, even if significant funds were raised.
The company stated: 'We are looking for a delivery partner; they possess neither funds nor a track record of delivering a project of this magnitude and intricacy.'
It noted that a local group with a prior history of opposition, lacking financial resources and development experience, has attempted to disrupt a critical housing project by making a speculative bid.
This is not a genuine proposal; it is a regrettable attempt to hinder a fully endorsed construction project that will bring genuine advantages to local residents, who are in dire need of housing.
'Tralee Farm is an important location that has secured approval for the construction of 87 new homes, with 48 percent allocated as affordable housing.
In this period of severe housing scarcity, this project offers a substantial opportunity to offer high-quality housing alongside vital infrastructure contributions.
Without credible investment and the required development expertise, the sole consequence of this group's actions would be avoidable delays and ongoing failure to meet local housing requirements.
Hawridge Land is actively collaborating with highly qualified delivery partners through our advisors Prime Plots, who possess the capacity and commitment to assist us in bringing this project to completion.
Our priority has to be providing homes to the local community.
A spokesperson for Bellway Homes stated: 'Bellway is eager to deliver a variety of houses that will be attractive to first-time buyers, families, and professionals who work locally or commute to Maidenhead, Heathrow, and London.'
'The development is being implemented in accordance with the approved planning permission.'
Buckinghamshire Council did not provide a response to a request for a statement.