The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This section describes the evidence base behind the Plan. A wide range of technical studies covers housing and employment needs, transport, infrastructure, climate change, sustainability, health and design. Key studies include the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) and the New and Expanded Settlement Study (NESS), which test whether promoted sites are suitable, available and achievable. Other evidence covers flood risk, water, renewable energy, retail and gypsy and traveller accommodation. A full list is on the Council's website.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
what counts at examination; check it before you rely on anything here.
What the plan says
The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
contain artefacts; the PDF is authoritative.
Evidence Base
1.31 The Buckinghamshire Local Plan is supported by a comprehensive and proportionate evidence base, which has informed the preparation of the Plan’s vision, objectives, spatial strategy and planning policies. The evidence base ensures that the Plan is robust, justified and informed by upto-date information relating to Buckinghamshire’s environmental, social and economic characteristics, needs and opportunities.
1.32 A wide range of technical studies, assessments and supporting documents have been prepared throughout the plan-making process. These include evidence relating to housing and employment needs, economic growth, transport and infrastructure capacity, environmental constraints, climate change, sustainability, health and wellbeing and design.
1.33 The Council has also undertaken a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), and New and Expanded Settlement Study (NESS) to support site allocations to meet development needs across Buckinghamshire. The HELAA and NESS form an important part of the evidence base by assessing the suitability, availability and achievability of sites promoted through the planmaking process.
1.34 Key evidence supporting the Local Plan includes:
a) Strategic and appraisal evidence: Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Equality Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment
b) Housing evidence: Local Housing Needs Assessment, Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), New and Expanded Settlement Study, Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment and Settlement Review.
c) Economic evidence:
Land Review and Retail Study and the Modern Economy Study
d) Transport and infrastructure evidence: Baseline Transport Study and Strategic Transport modelling, Baseline Infrastructure Studies and Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Community Facilities Study and Sports Playing Pitch Strategy
e) Environmental evidence: Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 and 2, Sequential Flood Risk Assessment, Water Cycle Study 1 and 2, Renewable Energy Assessment, Net Zero Carbon Study
1.35 A full schedule of evidence base documents is available on the Council’s website. Together, these documents provide an evidence-led basis for planning positively for Buckinghamshire’s future growth and development.