Local Plan for Buckinghamshire sites survey

As part of the ‘Regulation 18’ phase of Plan preparation, we asked for your views on sites that were being considered for possible development as part of the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire.

Two types of sites were under consideration:

• individual plots of land listed in a formal planning document known as the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA)
• locations for larger-scale developments contained in a formal planning document known as the New and Expanded Settlements Study (NESS)

Find information on these documents on our Local Plan evidence web pages.

Respondents were asked to give their views on proposed development sites, including:

• whether the site was suitable for the proposed development
• the opportunities and advantages of its development
• any infrastructure issues or other potential barriers
• any environmental or community amenity issues
• whether the land was available
• any other local issues relating to a site’s development

We received 7,896 responses.

The online responses were from the following:

• 94.1% Residents
• 2.4% Local Representatives
• 2.3% Businesses or groups
• 0.5% Landowners/agents
• 0.4% Visitors/friends of residents
• 0.3% Service users

Key issues raised by respondents included:

Infrastructure, Schools, Healthcare and Community Facilities

Responses consistently raised concerns that infrastructure, particularly roads, schools, healthcare and community services, is already overstretched, with doubts about funding and delivery timing, while developers argued impacts could be mitigated through planning obligations.

Traffic, Highways, Public Transport and Car Dependency

Representations highlighted severe congestion, unsafe roads, poor public transport and heavy reliance on private cars, alongside concerns about parking and highway safety, whereas developers emphasised mitigation through design and transport improvements.

Green Belt, Grey Belt, Countryside and Agricultural Land

Many respondents strongly objected to development on Green Belt, greenfield and agricultural land due to impacts on openness, rural character and food production, while developers promoted selective release through “Grey Belt” arguments and site-specific justifications.

Landscape, Biodiversity, Heritage and Environmental Effects

Responses raised significant concern about damage to biodiversity, landscapes, heritage assets and environmental quality, including pollution and loss of amenity, whereas developers generally argued impacts could be mitigated through design, biodiversity net gain and green infrastructure.

Flood Risk, Drainage, Sewerage and Utilities

Representations emphasised flood risk, inadequate drainage and sewer capacity, often disputing technical evidence based on local experience, while developers maintained that risks could be managed through sustainable drainage systems and design.

Housing Growth, Development Scale, Design and Plan Approach

Developers stressed the need to meet significant housing targets and deliver a range of housing types, while communities and local councils raised concerns about excessive scale, density and impacts on settlement character, as well as conflicts with neighbourhood plans.

Read the full consultation statement and appendices on our Local Plan evidence web pages.

The site allocations have been modified following feedback received in the site engagement exercise. Notably, the decision was made to avoid any housing allocations on Green Belt land. The Council has also started initiatives to make sure there is development of infrastructure to support the new homes and places of work that will be created.

The amended draft Local Plan, including site allocations, was subject to scrutiny by the Growth, Infrastructure & Housing Select Committee at a meeting on 10 July.

The amended draft Local Plan, including site allocations, was approved for Regulation 19 consultation at a meeting of Cabinet on 22 July 2026. The Local Plan for Buckinghamshire Regulation 19 consultation launched on 23 July 2026.