Buckinghamshire Council is expected to sell two “surplus” sites on Cressex Lane in High Wycombe.

The authority’s cabinet is being recommended to approve the joint marketing of the Courtyard and Orchard House sites, which sit opposite each other on Cressex Lane. Both plots are currently vacant and deemed no longer needed for council use.

The Courtyard site was previously marketed on its own, but the council said it proved “unviable” because of its small size.

Orchard House had until recently been allocated for a new-build project with a public sector partner, but negotiations fell through.

Council officers say that marketing the two plots together should make the overall project more attractive to potential bidders by increasing its size and development potential.

The sites will be openly marketed for all potential uses, although residential development,  particularly affordable and mixed housing, is expected to attract the most interest.

If cabinet approval is granted, an agent will be appointed to handle the joint sale, potentially by extending the existing contract with the agent previously appointed for The Courtyard. Both plots will then be marketed simultaneously over a six to eight-week period.

After bids are received, a key decision paper will be presented to cabinet, recommending which offer should be accepted. Legal services will prepare the paperwork with the aim of exchanging contracts within eight weeks of agreement.

Completion will depend on whether the sale is conditional, such as subject to planning, or unconditional.

The council expects the disposal to be a key decision and will bring a further report to cabinet to approve the preferred buyer.

Neither site contains buildings suitable for repurposing, with limited interest from other council departments, such as education or social care, for alternative use.

Orchard House is a 1.36-acre site owned by Buckinghamshire Council. It was previously earmarked for development as an adults’ respite and day centre, but those plans were later shelved.

Opposite sits The Courtyard, a 0.78-acre plot which council members approved for disposal in July 2024. A developer had agreed terms to buy the land and proposed building 13 homes, but no planning application was ever submitted.

In January 2025, the developer withdrew from the deal, citing funding difficulties and saying they were no longer able to deliver a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme.

The council added: “The disposal of the two sites aligns to the Council’s Corporate plan 2020 to 2025, specifically relating to increasing prosperity and protecting the vulnerable.”