PCA has been keeping residents informed on the progress of Buckinghamshire’s Local Plan.
Our news item on 31st October 2025 included PCA’s submission to the consultation. We concentrated largely on issues relating to Prestwood and similar rural communities, in particular housing, infrastructure, transport and environmental protection. We were especially concerned at the draft plan’s projection of almost a sixth of the total new homes mandated by central government within existing villages. The draft itself admitted that a weakness of this approach was the improbability of necessary accompanying investment in local facilities, transport and services.
Local Plan – latest update
On 17th February Buckinghamshire Council provided a further update. The main substance was the latest version of potential development sites across the county, displayed with the help of an interactive map. Around 1,400 sites originally listed across Buckinghamshire have now been narrowed down to about 400, which will proceed for further assessment. This will involve assessing the availability, suitability and viability of these sites with landowners and infrastructure providers.
The Prestwood Context
We were initially surprised to find that nearly all the sites shown for consideration around Prestwood have been marked as ‘unsuitable, through a mixture of Green Belt, National Landscape, size, location, character and environmental impact. One brownfield site at Hazell Road is marked as ‘suitable’.
On further reflection this should not have been a surprise. The methodology for the ‘HELAA’ (Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment) excludes sites for which there are clear constraints. Such constraints include National Landscape (AONB) and Green Belt.
So we can say that we are happy that Buckinghamshire Council recognises and is working to maintain the protections on National Landscape and Green Belt. But we must remain realistic and vigilant. In particular, the marking of sites as ‘unsuitable’ does NOT mean they are exempt from applications for development.
The most recent planning application on Greenlands Lane, though turned down by Buckinghamshire Council, was a harbinger of what is to come. Two previous applications had been rejected, including at appeal. But the developers, through their King’s Counsel, argued that under new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requirements in relation to Green Belt, the site should now be considered appropriate for development. Around the county there is any number of examples of developers putting forward proposals, encouraged by the policy changes.
In our local context, PCA is by no means opposed to development around Prestwood. But proposals do need to balance the needs of residents and potential residents; any significant new development within or on the edge of villages MUST be accompanied by investment in appropriate services, facilities and local transport; and to the extent possible, development must be consistent with current protections on National Landscape and Green Belt.
Bucks Council – between a rock and a hard place
We should also understand that we are still a long way from Buckinghamshire agreeing a settled plan with central government. In many respects the Council is between a rock and a hard place. It is being told to plan for the 95,000 homes being imposed by the government’s top-down process, but in the absence of any Government funding for the infrastructure that would be needed to support such growth. Developers’ contributions can be expected to contribute only a portion of necessary investment, leaving a potentially massive shortfall.
The Council stresses its commitment to protect Green Belt and National Landscapes, but if it cannot in some way ‘square the circle’, something will have to give. Adjoining Three Rivers District Council has experienced the Government intervention that can happen in such circumstances. With 76% of its area designated as Green Belt, its inability to plan for its housing target has seen central Government step in and issue a ‘holding direction’ on its local plan.
Next Stage…
The Council will now review and consider all feedback and technical evidence. Residents are invited to give their feedback on sites identified as being potentially suitable for development. The survey, available at https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/2aa4b313/, closes at midnight on Monday 16th March.
The final draft Local Plan will be published this summer for further public consultation. Ultimately Buckinghamshire’s Local Plan must be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in time for it to be approved by the end of 2026.
Could YOU help PCA on Planning issues?
Are you a Prestwood resident with an informed interest on planning issues or procedure? Perhaps, but not 100% necessarily, with some professional experience in the field?
Please drop us a line on info@prestwoodcommunity.uk