Development Management Policies

How planning decisions will be made

Development management policies are used to assess planning applications. They set out the detailed requirements that development must follow, regardless of where it takes place. These policies set out local requirements and include new policies such as for assessing applications for datacentres and renewable energy (solar and wind), which are becoming increasing prevalent in Buckinghamshire. We have previously consulted on these polices which have now been finalised, they cover a wide range of issues, including:

Housing quality and affordability

Design and placemaking

Health and wellbeing

Biodiversity and nature recovery

Heritage and local character

Transport, sustainable travel and infrastructure

Water resources and flood risk

Employment, rural economy and town centres

These ensure that development is appropriate for its location and meets the high standards we expect.

Why these policies matter

Even where a site is allocated for development, proposals must still comply with these policies. This ensures that new development is well designed, protects the character of the area, and minimises environmental impacts.

By applying consistent standards, these policies help to deliver better outcomes for communities across Buckinghamshire.