The Cabinet of Buckinghamshire Council met on 22 July 2026 to discuss and approve the draft Local Plan for Buckinghamshire, which will be subject to a six-week public consultation. The council also approved the disposal of a Highways Depot in Wing and land at Cooks Lane in Mursley, and agreed to a lease and refurbishment of Globeside Business Park in Marlow, as well as the letting of a site at Coronation Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe.

Draft Local Plan for Buckinghamshire Consultation (Regulation 19)

Cabinet approved the publication of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) version for a six-week public consultation. This plan outlines a strategy to deliver approximately 91,000 homes and 270 hectares of employment land by 2045, with a focus on sustainable growth, a brownfield-first approach, and the extension of main settlements. It also includes provisions for new settlements and limited development in rural areas, while protecting the Green Belt and areas of natural beauty. The plan aims to support the council's ambitions for thriving town centres in Aylesbury, High Wycombe, and Chesham. Progression to this stage is a statutory requirement and ensures the council maintains a plan-led approach to development in line with the National Planning Policy Framework¹.

The plan was scrutinised by the Growth, Infrastructure and Housing Select Committee, which examined its soundness tests: positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy. Feedback from this scrutiny was incorporated. Cabinet delegated authority to the Corporate Director for Planning, Growth and Sustainability, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, to make minor modifications to the plan and supporting documents before publication. Updates on the Local Plan process will be provided to the Growth, Infrastructure & Housing Select Committee.

The decision to proceed with the Regulation 19 consultation was made to meet statutory duties and government direction, ensuring the council could submit the Local Plan for independent examination by 31 December 2026. The alternative of not agreeing to the consultation would have left Buckinghamshire at greater risk from unplanned development due to a lack of a five-year housing land supply, and would have meant losing the opportunity to implement new policies for development needs and higher standards. The Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, had directed the council to commence the Regulation 19 consultation by 23 July 2026.

Disposal of Highways Depot, Wing

Cabinet approved the disposal of the Council-owned site in Wing. The site, which was widely marketed following a previous Cabinet decision on 11 November 2025, received four bids. The recommended conditional offer from the preferred bidder exceeded the capital receipt target set in the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and was deemed to represent best value for the Council. The decision was made in accordance with Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, which mandates the disposal of council-owned land for the best consideration reasonably obtainable. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director for Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, to finalise legal documentation and complete the disposal. The decision was made subject to planning permission being granted to the preferred bidder.

Disposal of Land at Cooks Lane, Mursley

The Cabinet approved the disposal of the Council-owned site at Cooks Lane, Mursley, to a preferred bidder. This decision followed a Cabinet meeting on 23 September 2025, which had agreed to market the site for residential development, taking into account the Mursley Neighbourhood Plan (2021-2040). Several bids were received, all subject to planning permission. The recommended offer from the preferred bidder was the highest financial offer and exceeded the capital receipt target in the MTFP. The disposal is expected to contribute to meeting local housing targets. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director for Resources to finalise legal documentation and complete the sale. The site is the sole residential allocation in the Mursley Neighbourhood Plan, and a delay in decision-making would postpone housing provision in the area. The disposal will include the provision of local amenities such as a playground and communal space, with a 25-year sum provided to the parish council for maintenance.

Globeside Business Park, Marlow

Cabinet approved a proposal to invest capital in the property at 3 Globeside, Marlow, to enable its refurbishment and subsequent letting. This investment is intended to convert a long-term vacant asset into an income-generating property, meeting modern market, compliance, and environmental standards. A prospective tenant has expressed strong interest in leasing the entire building on competitive terms, which is expected to support long-term employment and deliver wider economic benefits while generating rental income for the Council. The proposal was considered to represent good value for money and align with the Council's strategic objectives. Authority was delegated to the Service Director for Corporate Property and Assets, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, to approve the letting and oversee the procurement and delivery of refurbishment works. A project budget was also approved for the refurbishment, to be funded from earmarked capital reserves.

Hillcrest site at Coronation Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe

Cabinet approved the letting of the Council-owned site at Coronation Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, to a preferred bidder. This decision followed a Cabinet meeting on 9 September 2025, which had agreed to market the site for disposal. Two bids were received: one for a leasehold and one for a freehold. The leasehold offer was recommended as it exceeded prevailing market rent, delivering value comparable to capital receipts and exceeding the highest freehold offer. The proposal will establish a specialist nurturing educational environment for young people at risk of exclusion from mainstream education, aiming to generate societal benefits through reduced youth disengagement and antisocial behaviour, and improved employability. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director for Resources to finalise legal documentation and to the Chief Legal Officer to undertake all necessary legal steps. Notably, the revenue rental income from this deal will be ring-fenced as a contribution to Capital reserves, in lieu of a capital receipt.