The Central & North Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee is scheduled to consider a proposal for outline planning permission for up to 36 new dwellings on land off Barnett Way in Bierton. The meeting documents indicate that the committee will also review the minutes from a previous meeting.

Outline Planning Application for Housing Development in Bierton

The primary item scheduled for discussion is an outline planning application for the erection of up to 36 dwellings, including public open space and a sustainable drainage system, on land off Barnett Way, Bierton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5DN. The application, submitted by Storey Homes, seeks outline permission with all matters reserved except for access.

The report pack details that the site is located outside the development boundary defined in the Bierton Neighbourhood Plan and is not allocated for development within the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP). The proposal would extend development into open countryside, potentially impacting landscape character, the rural setting of Bierton, and the setting of the Bierton Conservation Area and Barnett House, a non-designated heritage asset. The report also notes the presence of ridge and furrow earthworks within the site, which would be lost as a result of the development.

A key consideration for the committee will be Buckinghamshire Council's current housing land supply, which stands at 3.73 years, falling short of the required five-year supply. This shortfall triggers the tilted balance under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which presumes in favour of sustainable development unless adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. The report indicates that the proposal would contribute up to 36 homes towards the council's housing supply, including 25% affordable housing (up to nine homes) and a minimum of three bungalows.

The report pack outlines numerous planning considerations, including the principle of development, affordable housing, countryside and landscape impacts, design, transport, amenity, the historic environment, green infrastructure, ecology, flood risk, and building sustainability. It also details proposed developer contributions towards local infrastructure, education, healthcare, sports and recreation facilities, and public transport.

The report highlights that the application has been called in by Ward Councillors Julie Ward and Kathy Gibbon, who have expressed concerns about development in open countryside, impacts on village identity, and strain on local services. Bierton Parish Council has also objected, citing conflicts with the Bierton Neighbourhood Plan, impacts on local services, traffic concerns, and environmental issues. Numerous local residents have also submitted objections, primarily focusing on planning policy conflicts, landscape and village identity, infrastructure capacity, traffic, environmental concerns, and residential amenity.

The report recommends that the application be deferred and delegated to the Service Director of Planning and Environment for approval, subject to the satisfactory completion of a publicity period, a suitable Section 106 agreement, and the imposition of conditions. This recommendation is made despite conflicts with the Development Plan, with significant weight being afforded to the council's housing land supply shortfall and the contribution the proposal would make towards meeting housing needs. The report also notes that the NPPF was updated in August 2026, and the assessment has been reviewed against the revised framework, with the recommendation remaining unchanged.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee is also scheduled to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 19 August 2026.