The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This section explains the presumption in favour of sustainable development. National law and the National Planning Policy Framework require plans to apply this presumption, meaning the Council will look to approve proposals that accord with the development plan and contribute to economic, social and environmental objectives. Adverse impacts should be avoided, mitigated or outweighed by benefits. Whether development is sustainable is judged against the Plan as a whole, including the detailed development management policies in Chapter 7.
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.
Presumption in favour of Sustainable Development
Section 39 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that planning documents are prepared with the objective of contributing to sustainable development. Paragraph 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2024) states that plans and decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development and sets out what that means for plan making.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish the overarching approach to plan-making and decisiontaking in Buckinghamshire by applying the presumption in favour of sustainable development. In accordance with national policy, the Council will seek to approve proposals that accord with the development plan and contribute positively to the economic, social and environmental objectives of sustainable development, whilst ensuring that adverse impacts are appropriately avoided, mitigated or outweighed by the benefits of development. The Council will take a positive approach by supporting development proposals where these can help to improve the local economy, physical, and community infrastructure (such as health, education and cultural infrastructure) and protect and/or enhance the environment and where relevant supporting policies. This is in keeping with the Government’s overall approach to delivering sustainable development and sets out the Council’s strategy for bringing forward land in appropriate locations, whilst protecting and enhancing the natural resources and heritage assets of Buckinghamshire - minimising the need to travel and avoiding areas of greatest risk from flooding. The presumption in favour of sustainable development should be applied in the context of the Local Plan as a whole. In assessing whether development is sustainable, proposals will be expected to accord, where relevant, with the Development Management policies in Chapter 7, including those relating to housing, economic development, transport, infrastructure, health and community facilities, design and heritage, climate change, flood risk, the natural environment and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. These policies provide the detailed framework through which the economic, social and environmental objectives of sustainable development are delivered in Buckinghamshire.
Implementation through Development Management Policies
5.7 Together, the strategy and Development Management policies of the Local Plan seek to meet housing and economic development needs at a level which can be supported by the necessary infrastructure, whilst recognising environmental limits, protecting mineral resources, preventing pollution and minimising waste. They promote the delivery of high-quality sustainable development within walkable neighbourhoods, where residents can readily access services and facilities to meet their day-to-day needs, and where development is designed to protect and enhance the built environment, local character and landscape of Buckinghamshire.