Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan approved by Bucks Council
It has been in development for 7 years
Last updated 16th Sep 2021
The Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP) completed the last part of the process last night when Buckinghamshire Council voted to adopt the plan which covers the northern part of the new unitary council’s area.
The VALP sets out a long term planning blueprint and vision for the area of the Vale of Aylesbury up to 2033. The local plan sets out how and where land can be used to
- meet housing need
- provide key infrastructure elements
- protect and enhance the area’s key natural features
- incorporate climate control policies
- provide employment land
Housing
The VALP allocates land for 30,134 new homes. These are mostly concentrated around Aylesbury with other sites at Buckingham, Winslow, Haddenham and adjacent to Milton Keynes. It embeds policies to ensure that 25% of new homes that are built within the area will be affordable homes and that 10-15% will have disabled access.
The plan has gone through rigorous public consultation over a number of years including public hearings held before the independent planning Inspector. The independent Inspector cannot approve a local plan unless it meets current and projected local housing needs and falls within current government guidelines for determining what that local need is.
Infrastructure
The plan also sets out where essential infrastructure such as roads, schools and facilities which will support the new homes will be needed, as well as employment sites.
Nature and heritage
The VALP sets out policies to protect and enhance the natural environment and countryside for the future. It includes a net increase to the Green Belt by 98 hectares. It also embeds policies to protect our built heritage.
Climate change
There are many specific policies relating to climate change – including making sure there is provision for EV charging in every new home.
Work on the VALP started in 2014 and went through three stages of public consultation before it went to a nationally appointed independent Inspector in 2018.
There were then two hearing sessions where people who objected to the plan could make their case for changes to the plan directly to the independent Inspector.
The Inspector also looked closely at all the evidence sent to him by objectors and the Council before writing his full report.
Councillor Gareth Williams Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration commented:
“Now we have completed the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan process we can use the policies to give us more control and more local say about what gets built where.
"It gives us power to shape future development in the way we want and where we want it to be.”
The Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan will remain in force until it is superseded by the new Buckinghamshire Local Plan in 2025.