Plans for 3,000 homes on the edge of Aylesbury will be heard at appeal after the Planning Inspectorate agreed to look at the proposals.
The Hampden Fields consortium, which wants to build homes and other facilities between Bedgrove and Weston Turville, applied for non-determination so its plan can be looked at alongside proposals for 2,750 homes in Fleet Marston.
The Fleet Martson application was rejected by Aylesbury Vale District Council but the Hampden Fields consortium appealed before the council had a chance to rule on their plans.
The Fleet Marston appeal was due to be heard on April 23 but has now been postponed so they can be heard together.
Councillor Phil Yerby, a member of the Hampden Fields Action Group, said: “Given that the Government has been talking so much about localism it is extremely disappointing that they have decided to take the decision out of local hands.”
A consortium spokesman said: “We would have preferred for our application to be determined by the district council.
“But the only way for it to be considered alongside Fleet Marston was to submit an appeal.”