Strategic and key employment sites

EC1: Strategic and key employment sites 1. Employment sites which are of strategic or key importance are listed in the Strategic and Key Employment Areas set out in Appendix L. These sites include the three Enterprise Zones in Buckinghamshire and the Pinewood Studios site. 2. The regeneration and improvement of the strategic and key employment sites, and proposals for the intensification for employment use, will be supported where they accord with other policies in the plan and can evidence strong correlation to the strategic priorities of Buckinghamshire’s Economic Growth Plan. 3. Applications will be supported where the stated employment use aligns with advancing Buckinghamshire’s key sectors (life sciences, space/robotics/drones, advanced manufacturing, creative industries) and evidence a significant contribution to delivering productivity ambitions. 4. The sites are protected for employment use, i.e. use classes B2, B8 and E (g) of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, as amended by subsequent legislation, and their loss to non-employment generating uses will be resisted. 5. Other similar employment–generating uses will be supported on these Strategic or Key employment sites provided that: a) they are complementary to the current use of the site. b) they support the employment function of the site; or c) they provide economic enhancements or increased employment opportunities at the site; or ancillary service / facilities to enhance the attractiveness of the site for the core market such as shared training, testing, and staff amenities. d) they do not have a significant adverse impact on the employment function of the site. 7.75 There are strategic Local Plan policies for the Enterprise Zones and Employment sites at Westcott and Silverstone and for the Pinewood Studios site in Chapter 5. These have additional policy requirements because the scope for new employment development at these locations is part of the wider Local Plan and the Buckinghamshire Growth Plan for economic growth needs. 7.76 Strategic and key employment sites are a vital part of the Buckinghamshire economy, and their protection will help the economy grow in future. The sites have been assessed in the Lichfields Employment and Retail study (2025), with an update in July 2026, and their protection for employment is recommended in the Strategic and Key Employment sites table, which is informed by the employment site hierarchy within the study. The policy aims to protect their economic contribution and to support developments which complement the uses already on the sites. This would apply to small scale support facilities such as on-site cafes and other infrastructure which are ancillary to their main role. Developments which facilitate a better working environment on the sites are also within the scope of the policy for ancillary facilities, e.g. for healthy food opportunities, green space and active travel. 7.77 This policy is in line with paragraph 86 of the NPPF that planning policies should set out a clear economic vision and strategy which positively and proactively encourage sustainable economic growth.