The council has opened a six‑week Regulation 19 consultation on its draft Local Plan, giving residents, businesses and organisations the final statutory chance to submit representations before the document is sent for independent examination.
What is being consulted on
The draft plan sets out how Buckinghamshire proposes to meet national housing requirements and manage growth up to 2045, while aiming to protect the county’s Green Belt, secure infrastructure investment and support economic development. The consultation runs from 23 July to 6 September.
Key facts outlined by the council include:
- the plan makes provision for about 91,000 homes required under national planning policy;
- it promotes a brownfield‑first approach, with around 13,500 homes expected from redevelopment of town centres, previously developed land and sites near well‑connected railway stations;
- the council has identified more than 500 projects which together require at least £6 billion of investment for transport, schools and other infrastructure.
What the consultation will consider
At this stage respondents should focus on whether the draft is legally compliant and "sound" — that is, whether its policies are backed by evidence, are deliverable and align with national planning policy. The council will submit all responses to the planning inspector who will examine the plan.
"This is the final opportunity to comment on the draft Local Plan before it is submitted for independent examination," the council said.
Crucially, the plan does not itself set the housing requirement — that is determined by national policy — but the council is legally responsible for planning how those homes will be delivered across the county. Officials warn that without an up‑to‑date Local Plan Buckinghamshire would face increased risk of speculative applications, potential central government intervention and less local control over where growth occurs.
Local implications and next steps
Adopting a brownfield priority aims to encourage town centre regeneration and investment while reducing pressure on the countryside. The document also identifies land for employment growth and supports expansion of existing enterprise areas.
Residents and organisations taking part in the Regulation 19 consultation should concentrate on the legal and evidential soundness of the plan rather than on alternative site suggestions — those matters are central to the inspector’s remit at this stage. Following the consultation, responses will be considered alongside the council’s submission to the planning inspectorate.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Consultation dates | 23 July – 6 September |
| Homes planned for | ~91,000 |
| Expected brownfield homes | ~13,500 |
| Infrastructure projects identified | 500+ requiring at least £6bn |
Information on how to respond and the consultation documents are available from Buckinghamshire Council’s planning pages. With the draft Local Plan likely to set the planning framework for the county for decades, the council is encouraging as wide a public response as possible within the consultation window.
