Residents across Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire are being urged to have their final say on the county's draft Local Plan as the six-week consultation opens today (Thursday 23 July).
The consultation comes after the Labour Government increased Buckinghamshire's housing requirement by over 40%, meaning the county is now expected to plan for around 91,000 new homes by 2045. While Buckinghamshire Council does not set these housing numbers, it is legally required to produce a Local Plan showing how they will be delivered. Buckinghamshire Conservatives have consistently argued that if communities are expected to accommodate significant housing growth, it must be matched by the roads, schools, GP surgeries, transport links and utilities needed to support it.
Without an up-to-date Local Plan, Buckinghamshire would face a greater risk of speculative development, reduced local control over where homes are built and increased intervention from central government.
Protecting what matters
The draft Local Plan aims to manage this growth while protecting the character of Buckinghamshire. It adopts a brownfield-first approach, with around 13,500 homes expected to come from redevelopment opportunities in town centres, previously developed land and areas close to well-connected railway stations.
The plan also reflects one of the strongest messages received from residents during previous consultations by not allocating any new housing or employment sites within the Green Belt. Alongside new homes, the plan identifies land for employment growth, helping create jobs and support the continued expansion of Buckinghamshire's economy.
Homes must come with infrastructure
One of the biggest concerns raised by residents throughout the consultation process has been infrastructure. Working with infrastructure providers, Buckinghamshire Council has identified more than 500 projects requiring at least £6 billion of investment, including improvements to roads, schools, healthcare, public transport, utilities, community facilities and green infrastructure. Buckinghamshire Conservatives have repeatedly called on the Government to ensure that housing targets are matched by the funding needed to provide the infrastructure local communities deserve.
Ahead of the consultation, Council Leader Steven Broadbent has written to Buckinghamshire's MPs calling on the Government to provide the investment needed so that growth is properly supported by local services.
Steven Broadbent said:
"Buckinghamshire is a fantastic place to live, work and invest, and we are determined to protect what makes our county special for future generations. However, the Government requires Buckinghamshire to plan for significant housing growth. While we do not set those targets, we have a responsibility to outline how that growth is managed.
"This draft Local Plan is our best opportunity to retain local control and shape Buckinghamshire's future. We have listened to what residents have consistently told us are their top priorities. It provides a clear strategy for accommodating growth while protecting the Green Belt, supporting the economy and ensuring homes, jobs and infrastructure are planned together.
"This is the final opportunity for local people to comment and I would encourage everyone with an interest in Buckinghamshire's future to read the plan and take part."
Have your say
This Regulation 19 consultation is the final opportunity to comment before the draft Local Plan is submitted to the Planning Inspector for independent examination.
At this stage, comments should focus on whether the plan is legally compliant and "sound" – in other words, whether it is evidence-based, deliverable and consistent with national planning policy.
Whether you support or oppose aspects of the plan, this is your final opportunity to help shape Buckinghamshire's future before the Local Plan moves to the next stage.