The Growth, Infrastructure and Housing Select Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met on Friday 10 July 2026 to discuss the progress of the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire and its upcoming public consultation. The committee also reviewed performance monitoring reports for the Housing, Planning, Leader, and Culture & Leisure portfolios.

The Local Plan for Buckinghamshire

The committee engaged in an extensive discussion regarding the Buckinghamshire Local Plan, a crucial document outlining the council's strategy for housing, infrastructure, and economic development over the next 20 years. The plan aims to address a government-mandated housing target of 91,000 homes, a significant increase from previous estimates.

Key discussions and concerns raised included:

• Housing Numbers and Soundness: Councillors debated the soundness of the plan, particularly concerning the removal of a housing buffer and the reliance on specific sites to meet the target. Concerns were raised about the potential for sites to be undeliverable and the implications for the plan's overall housing numbers. The council's confidence in the evidence base supporting the site allocations was stressed, with assurances that realistic assessments had been made.
• Consultation Process: Questions were raised about whether residents had been adequately consulted on all proposed sites, particularly in light of new sites appearing in the Regulation 19 plan that were not on the Regulation 18 list. Officers confirmed that the Regulation 18 stage was an engagement exercise, not a formal consultation, and that the upcoming Regulation 19 consultation would be the primary opportunity for public comment.
• Infrastructure Funding: A significant concern was the £6 billion infrastructure requirement, with a £0.9 billion gap identified. Councillors questioned how this gap would be filled, the role of developers, and the need for central government funding. The council's lobbying efforts for infrastructure investment were highlighted, with reference to the Secretary of State's commitment to infrastructure delivery. Specific concerns were raised about water and sewerage capacity in North Buckinghamshire, with councillors expressing doubts about the robustness of existing infrastructure and the ability of utility providers to meet future demands.
• Green Belt and Grey Belt: The plan's commitment to protecting the Green Belt was reiterated, with no new allocations proposed within it. However, concerns were raised about potential inconsistencies between plan-making criteria for Green Belt and Grey Belt assessments and those used in development management.
• Town Centres and Parking: The strategy to increase density in town centres through brownfield development was discussed, alongside a significant reduction in public car parking spaces. Councillors sought evidence to support the reduction in parking and how this would be reconciled with supporting town centre vitality and encouraging modal shift. The potential need for multi-storey car parks in town centres was also raised.
• Employment and High Streets: The protection of existing employment sites and the need to ensure adequate job creation to prevent Buckinghamshire from becoming a dormitory county were key themes. Concerns were raised about the connectivity of strategic employment sites like Westcott Venture Park and Silverstone, and the potential for developers to convert employment land to residential use under permitted development rights. The council's economic growth plan and its alignment with the local plan were discussed, with assurances that existing employment sites and town centre regeneration were integral to the strategy.
• Affordable and Social Housing: A significant shortfall between the assessed need for affordable homes (over 33,000) and the planned delivery (around 14,800) was highlighted. Councillors expressed concern about building in poverty and disadvantage, particularly with lower affordability targets in areas of high growth. The viability assessments and the potential impact on other infrastructure contributions were debated. The council's policy on discounted market sales was clarified, stating it is not considered an affordable tenure.
• Data Centres: The council's criteria-based approach to data centre proposals was discussed, with assurances that exceptional circumstances would need to be demonstrated, particularly for sites in the Green Belt. Concerns were raised about the potential for data centres to consume significant energy and water resources, and the risk of Buckinghamshire becoming a data centre city. The council's role as a consultee in nationally significant infrastructure projects was clarified.
• Gypsy and Traveller Sites: The plan's approach to meeting the needs for gypsy and traveller pitches, including a reliance on windfall allowances, was discussed. Councillors sought confidence that this shortfall would not create issues with the planning inspector. The dynamic nature of needs assessments and the challenges of providing education for travelling communities were also noted.

The committee noted that the soundness tests for the Local Plan appeared to be met, although some members expressed reservations about the consultation process and the limited time for scrutiny. The next meeting is scheduled for 8 September 2026.

Performance Monitoring

The committee reviewed the Q4 2025-2026 performance monitoring reports for the Housing, Planning, Leader, and Culture & Leisure portfolios.

• Housing & Regulatory Services: The number of households on the housing register increased, and efforts are underway to ensure accuracy. The number of rough sleepers remained below target, and there were no households with children in non-self-contained B&B accommodation for longer than six weeks.
• Planning Portfolio: The percentage of major and non-major planning applications decided on time exceeded targets. The percentage of major planning applications overturned on appeal was below the target, while non-major applications were also well within the target. The percentage of planning enforcement appeals successfully defended was above target. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) liability notices were issued within the target timeframe.
• Culture & Leisure Portfolio: Engagement with archives through social media and in-person visits exceeded targets. Visitor numbers to country parks and cultural venues were also above target, as were visits to leisure centres and pools. The percentage of library enquiries resolved was above target.
• Leader's Portfolio: The amount of commercial floorspace generated on Enterprise Zones was below target, with efforts underway to accelerate delivery. The percentage of profiled spend achieved for strategic infrastructure projects, specifically the South-East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR), was below target but progressing well. Engagement with leading Buckinghamshire firms exceeded its target.

Work Programme

The committee discussed and agreed items for its next meeting, including further discussion on the Local Plan, a homelessness strategy update, the housing allocation policy, and a rapid review. The committee also noted that planning resources would be discussed at a future meeting.

The next meeting of the Growth, Infrastructure and Housing Select Committee was scheduled for 8 September 2026.