The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This section describes the stage the Plan has reached. It is at the Regulation 19 stage of the formal plan-making process. Early engagement ran from 2021 to 2022, followed by consultation on the vision and objectives in 2023 and several Call for Sites exercises. Regulation 18 consultation on the draft plan took place in September and October 2025, with Regulation 19 consultation between July and September 2026. The Plan was submitted for independent examination in December 2026.
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.
Stage of Plan Preparation
1.22 The Buckinghamshire Local Plan has been prepared in accordance with national planning legislation and guidance. Plan preparation has taken place over several stages, including evidence gathering, public consultation, policy development, and independent examination. This stage of plan preparation corresponds to Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, which involves consultation on the scope and content of the Plan at an early stage.
1.23 Buckinghamshire Council has undertaken a range of engagement and consultation activities to inform the vision, strategic objectives, spatial strategy, and planning policies within the Plan. Early engagement was carried out between 2021 and 2022 through a questionnaire survey which sought views on the key issues, opportunities and challenges facing Buckinghamshire. This was followed by consultation on the draft vision and objectives for the Local Plan and Local Transport Plan in 2023. Feedback from these stages has helped shape the direction and priorities of the Plan.
1.24 The Council has also undertaken several ‘Call for Sites’ exercises alongside extensive evidence gathering to understand future housing, employment, infrastructure and environmental needs. Supporting evidence includes studies relating to housing and employment land suitability, availability and achievability, transport and infrastructure, Green Belt, landscape, heritage, flood risk, sustainability and environmental impacts.
1.25 The Local Plan has been informed by engagement with residents, businesses, developers, infrastructure providers, neighbouring authorities, town and parish councils, statutory consultees and other stakeholders. This has helped ensure that the Plan is evidence-led, positively prepared and responsive to local issues and opportunities across Buckinghamshire.
1.26 Buckinghamshire Council has worked collaboratively with neighbouring authorities, infrastructure providers and other prescribed bodies to address strategic cross-boundary matters. This cooperation has helped ensure that strategic priorities, including housing, transport, infrastructure and environmental considerations, are appropriately coordinated and reflected within the Plan. Further details are set out in supporting evidence, including Statements of Common Ground.
1.27 Regulation 18 consultation on the draft Local Plan took place in September and October 2025. This was followed by further plan preparation, consultation and evidence gathering, including the publication of the Regulation 19 version of the Plan, and consultation between July and September 2026. The Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination in December 2026 and was subsequently adopted following examination.
1.28 The Plan is monitored and reviewed periodically to ensure it remains effective, up-to-date and responsive to changes in national policy, local circumstances and development needs.