Tourism

EC7: Tourism 1. New or expanded tourism and visitor facilities within or adjacent to existing settlements will be supported. 2. Elsewhere, proposed development must: a) Support sustainable growth of existing tourism and visitor facilities. b) Involve the conversion or replacement of buildings which form part of an existing tourist facility or well-designed new building(s) which promotes diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses; and c) be an appropriate location and minimise environmental impacts. 3. In the case of seasonal structures these must be temporary in nature and not have an adverse impact on the landscape. 4. The loss of existing tourism and visitor facilities will not be supported unless replacement facilities are proposed in suitable alternative locations. Alternatively, robust evidence must be provided to demonstrate there is no longer a need for that use in the area, or the existing use is unviable, and its retention has been fully explored including active and comprehensive marketing of the use for a period of 12 months, or a shorter period where it can be robustly demonstrated that there is no reasonable prospect of the use being retained. 7.111 Tourism plays an important role in generating income for residents. Buckinghamshire is a popular tourist destination, providing leisure and recreation activities for its own residents and those visiting. Much of Buckinghamshire’s tourism offering is based around our heritage and history and our built and natural environments. Attractions including National Trust properties such as, Stowe, Waddesdon Manor, Hughenden Manor and Cliveden, Discover Bucks Museum (our county museum), as well as Chilterns National Landscape, country parks such as Langley Park, and the motor racing circuit at Silverstone. 7.112 Buckinghamshire’s tourism sector in 20227 comprised of 169 visitor attractions, 115 annual events and over 1,000 places to stay. Tourism within Buckinghamshire consists of 2,125 businesses employing more than 21,000 people. Many of our tourism businesses are ‘micro’ businesses (under ten employees) which gives opportunities to cluster, curate and promote the broad range on offer at the level of place. 7.113 Tourism development within Buckinghamshire is welcomed, which can provide opportunities for employment and a means of supplementing rural incomes, as well as supporting our town centres. However, it can have negative impacts on the surrounding area if located insensitively, is out of scale with its context, or if it fails to take proper account of local character and appearance. This policy seeks to locate most development within or close to defined settlements, where local shops and facilities are most accessible and stand to benefit the most. and this makes use of existing transport links. 7.114 Applications for tourism development in the countryside will need to be justified by the applicant to show that it meets demand. Tourism development should benefit local businesses, the environment, communities and visitors in the long term. 7.115 The council wants to encourage visitors to Buckinghamshire whilst recognising that a balance needs to be maintained with regards to preserving the high quality environmental, historic, and cultural assets of Buckinghamshire. The re-use of existing buildings limits harm to the environment and may help farm diversification schemes. 7.116 Evidence supporting a countryside location should be proportionate to the scale and nature of the tourism proposal being considered. Larger tourism attractions such as museums, outdoor activity centre or hotels may have a significant impact on the countryside and the local road network, so in these cases more comprehensive supporting evidence will be required. 7.117 Seasonal structures related to tourism such as marquees can provide additional support to the local economy. Proposals of this type should be temporary in nature and not have an adverse impact on the landscape. 7 Visitor Economy Strategy Update report to Growth, Infrastructure & Housing Select Committee 7th September 2023