Jobs & economy

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy explains that most development in the Green Belt is inappropriate and will be refused unless very special circumstances apply. Exceptions include buildings for agriculture and forestry, facilities for outdoor sport and recreation, replacing or extending existing buildings, limited infilling within identified villages, and affordable housing on rural exception sites. Infill plots and buildings must be comparable in size to typical plots and houses in the village. The plan has also reviewed the Green Belt to identify Grey Belt land, but this policy applies to all Green Belt land.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets out when development is acceptable in countryside that lies outside the Green Belt. Supported categories include agriculture and forestry, outdoor sport, buildings for existing rural businesses, development within settlement built-up areas, rural exception housing, sites for Gypsies and Travellers, homes for rural workers, extensions, conversions of existing buildings and redevelopment of previously developed land. It also supports improvements to the Grand Union Canal network. The policy guides windfall sites (sites not specifically allocated in the plan) towards existing settlements as the most sustainable locations.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy supports moving freight from road to rail, along with facilities for sustainable deliveries and first mile and last mile solutions. It also supports smart warehousing, meaning the retrofitting of older warehouse stock with digital and automated systems. New freight proposals must not significantly harm the local area, and retail and employment sites must provide suitable access, loading and unloading facilities. Freight and logistics is a major part of the local economy, representing 72.1% of modern economy roles in Buckinghamshire in 2023.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy safeguards the route of the Buckinghamshire Greenway, a proposed flagship walking, wheeling and cycling route running north to south across the county. Development must not prejudice delivery of a 5 metre wide traffic-free corridor, though a 3 metre path may be accepted where space is constrained. Major sites of 10 or more homes (or employment equivalent) within 800 metres of the route must make proportionate contributions to its construction or provide convenient links to it. Sections at Waddesdon and the Misbourne valley have already been completed.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy safeguards the former Bourne End to High Wycombe railway line, closed in 1970, as a future walking, wheeling and cycling route. Development must not prejudice a 5 metre wide corridor along the old track bed between Bourne End and High Wycombe town centre. Major sites of 10 or more homes (or employment equivalent) within 800 metres must contribute to building the route or provide links to it. The council no longer expects the line to reopen for public transport but considers it a direct, largely flat and traffic-free active travel route.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires all new housing and commercial developments to include underground ducting for telecommunications cabling, and sites for masts where extra mobile capacity is needed, unless developers can justify why this is not feasible. Above-ground equipment must be designed to minimise visual impact, and alternatives such as mast sharing must be considered. In sensitive locations like the Green Belt, National Landscape and conservation areas, the benefits of large masts must outweigh any harm. Equipment must be removed when no longer required.