Carter Jonas continually monitors the planning and development landscape across local authorities to locate and manage opportunities. This quarterly news bulletin provides insight and analysis of the current development climate for clusters of local authorities within the home counties. This quarter we look at Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
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JuLY 2021
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire
Local Authority insight
Development drivers
Planning policy article
Buckinghamshire
Wycombe
South Bucks
Chiltern
Aylesbury Vale
BU
AV
C
SB
W
In February 2021, the Government announced its intention to develop a Spatial Framework Plan (SPF) to enable the long-planned investment in the Arc area. This could have a significant impact on the development potential of northern areas of Buckinghamshire, including Milton Keynes.
The Government intend to consult on a vision for the SPF in summer 2021, followed by a consultation on policy and growth options in spring 2022. A preferred draft will be published for consultation in autumn 2022.
However, the DfT have stated the East-West Rail (EWR) link remains “central to providing critical infrastructure within the Oxford-Cambridge Arc”.
In March 2021, the proposed Oxford to Cambridge expressway – one of the original foundations for Growth Plans within the Arc – was cancelled by the Department for Transport (DfT), as it was considered the £3.5 billion project was “not cost-effective”. Instead, the DfT have confirmed they will work alongside Highways England and England’s Economic Heartland to develop a study on more targeted road interventions as part of the emerging Spatial Framework Plan.
In January 2021, the Council adopted the Milton Keynes: Strategy for 2050 – outlining aims to grow the population of Milton Keynes to 410,000 people by 2050. The strategy includes proposals for a new mass rapid transit (MRT) network to serve greater Milton Keynes and other potential areas of growth.
Intermittent trials have taken place for upgraded services on the Reading to Paddington route, although are yet to be fully implemented. Most stopping services between Paddington and Reading have been transferred from Great Western Railway to TfL Rail as part of the transition.
Crossrail is now broadly in full operation (including the use of upgraded, purpose-built train stock) on the Liverpool Street – Shenfield branch in the east, as well as the London Paddington – Heathrow Terminal 5 branch in the west, albeit services are currently restricted by COVID-19.
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5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
*Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 these provisional dates are subject to change.
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Glossary
EMAIL DAVID
07866 794560
Partner, Planning
David Churchill
EMAIL FRANCIS
07787 282092
Partner, Strategic Land
Francis Truss
Our regional planning experts work out of five hubs, providing a truly national service for their clients:
EMAIL KATY
07968 562702
London
Katy Davis
EMAIL SARAH
07920 822527
North
Sarah Cox
EMAIL STEVEN
07970 796762
South and South West
Steven Sensecall
EMAIL COLIN
07771 924426
East
Colin Brown
The strategy for 2050 will likely play a key role in driving growth in the emerging Plan:MK Review.
West Berkshire
WB
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
Slough
S
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
Reading
R
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
Bracknell Forest
BF
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
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Glossary
Windsor & Maidenhead
W&M
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
Despite the present situation around the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is currently consulting on another document, a National Model Design Code. Our Planning & Development professionals have analysed the document and accompanying guidance notes to provide their thoughts on how the code might work in practice.
The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee published their report on “The Future of the Planning System in England” in June and this included some extensive recommendations on the Government’s planning changes.
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EMAIL robert
07771 898954
National Strategic Land
Robert Smith
EMAIL johnny
07557 428136
National Masterplanning
Johnny Clayton
Our national service specialists:
Critical calendar dates
Planning Appendix
This phase of Local Plan production takes place following the result of the Inspector(s) examination. Dependent on the outcome, this can involve adoption of the document through the Council’s democratic process; withdrawal of the document from examination (an acknowledgement that the document cannot be adopted); or legal challenge (either against the Inspector(s) judgement and/or the Council’s decision to adopt the document by an interested third party).
Post-Examination
More formally referred to as an Examination in Public (EiP), this phase of Local Plan production involves an examination undertaken by appointed Planning Inspector(s). The document is examined on its legal compliance and soundness, typically through a focus on various issues through hearing sessions and/or written exchanges with interested parties. It can often result in further rounds of consultation, including consideration of new/amended evidence and/or proposed modifications to the document’s content.
To pass the examination, an Inspector(s) is required to publish a ‘final report’ that concludes that the document (inclusive of any modifications) is both sound and legally compliant. The Inspector(s) can choose to recommend that the document is not adopted and/or that the document is withdrawn at any stage.
This is often a lengthy process that typically takes 8-24 months.
Examination
This phase of Local Plan production represents the chosen strategy, collection of policies and supporting evidence base that a Council considers is legally compliant and sound. The Council are required to undertake consultation on this final position (also known as a pre-submission draft), prior to the submission of the emerging Local Plan document for Examination.
Regulation 19
This phase of Local Plan production involves an exploration of the potential vision, objectives and policy options (including potential development sites) for the defined planned area – including the production and/or review of supporting evidence base documents. This phase can often take place over several consultation stages, including (but not required/limited) to:
• Early evidence gathering (such as questionnaires and internal evidence gathering) • Call for sites • Issues and options
• Preferred options • Draft policies
Regulation 18
R
W
S
W&M
BF
WB
AV
MK
C
W
Planning Appendix
This phase of Local Plan production takes place following the result of the Inspector(s) examination. Dependent on the outcome, this can involve adoption of the document through the Council’s democratic process; withdrawal of the document from examination (an acknowledgement that the document cannot be adopted); or legal challenge (either against the Inspector(s) judgement and/or the Council’s decision to adopt the document by an interested third party).
Post-Examination
More formally referred to as an Examination in Public (EiP), this phase of Local Plan production involves an examination undertaken by appointed Planning Inspector(s). The document is examined on its legal compliance and soundness, typically through a focus on various issues through hearing sessions and/or written exchanges with interested parties. It can often result in further rounds of consultation, including consideration of new/amended evidence and/or proposed modifications to the document’s content.
To pass the examination, an Inspector(s) is required to publish a ‘final report’ that concludes that the document (inclusive of any modifications) is both sound and legally compliant. The Inspector(s) can choose to recommend that the document is not adopted and/or that the document is withdrawn at any stage.
This is often a lengthy process that typically takes 8-24 months.
Examination
This phase of Local Plan production represents the chosen strategy, collection of policies and supporting evidence base that a Council considers is legally compliant and sound. The Council are required to undertake consultation on this final position (also known as a pre-submission draft), prior to the submission of the emerging Local Plan document for Examination.
Regulation 19
This phase of Local Plan production involves an exploration of the potential vision, objectives and policy options (including potential development sites) for the defined planned area – including the production and/or review of supporting evidence base documents. This phase can often take place over several consultation stages, including (but not required/limited) to:
• Early evidence gathering (such as questionnaires and internal evidence gathering) • Call for sites • Issues and options
• Preferred options • Draft policies
Regulation 18
Milton Keynes
MK
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
Berkshire
Please use the map below to reveal the Local Plan position,
5-year housing land supply and recent Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results for the Berkshire authorities.
Wokingham
W
5-year housing supply and Housing Delivery Test >
Local Plan position >
A non-statutory public consultation on EWR’s plans recently closed on 9th June. This introduced initial concepts for the usage of stations on “Section B” of the route along the Marston Vale Line – including several stations in Milton Keynes. No further detail was given on proposed future sections linking to Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Aylesbury, although Winslow was confirmed as a proposed EWR station.
The remaining sections of the route, including the Abbey Wood branch in the east; central sections; and full operation of the Elizabeth Line, are not expected to be in operation until at least 2022.
Housing Delivery Test glossary
Development drivers
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Crossrail
Critical calendar dates
Our review of the HCLG's response to Planning for the Future
HOME COUNTIES
HOUSING & LOCAL
PLAN UPDATE
Buckinghamshire
Local Plan position >
10 minute read
november 2020
HOME COUNTIES
HOUSING & LOCAL
PLAN UPDATE
Berkshire and
Buckinghamshire
Carter Jonas continually monitors the planning and development landscape across local authorities to locate and manage opportunities. This quarterly news bulletin provides insight and analysis of the current development climate for clusters of local authorities within the home counties. This quarter we look at Hertfordshire and Essex.
CONTACT US
Planning policy article
Carter Jonas continually monitors the planning and development landscape across local authorities to locate and manage opportunities. This quarterly news bulletin provides insight and analysis of the current development climate for clusters of local authorities within the home counties. This quarter we look at Hertfordshire and Essex.
This map illustrates local authorities individual Local Plan positions, their 5-year housing supply, and recent Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results
6 local authorities within
Berkshire
Broxbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Eastbourne
B
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
5-year housing supply:
Local Plan position:
Brighton
B
Local Plan position:
5 local authorities within
Buckinghamshire
EMAIL DAVID
07866 794560
Partner, Planning
David Churchill
EMAIL FRANCIS
07787 282092
Partner, Strategic Land
EMAIL NICK
07968 562702
London
Katy Davis
EMAIL EMMA
07425 632460
Midlands
Neal Allcock
EMAIL STEVEN
07970 796762
South and South West
Steven Sensecall
EMAIL COLIN
07771 924426
East
Colin Brown
Contact the key contributors to this research:
EMAIL ROBERT
07771 898954
National Strategic Land
Robert Smith
EMAIL JOHNNY
07557 428136
National Masterplanning
Johnny Clayton
Our national service specialists:
Our regional planning experts work out of five hubs, providing a truly national service for their clients:
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The final confirmation of EWR will be produced in tandem with the production of the SPF, with initial aims to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) in 2022. It is expected full operation of the line from Oxford to Cambridge will be implemented by 2030.
SB
Oxford-Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework plan
Oxford-Cambridge Expressway and East-West Rail
Milton Keynes: Strategy for 2050
The London Plan, published in March 2021, includes both policy and supporting text highlighting the Mayor of London’s broader support for expansion of Gatwick over Heathrow.
Since that judgement, further plans for a third runway and/or Heathrow expansion have not been announced. However, plans have continued to progress for expansion at Gatwick Airport, with a public consultation scheduled to take place this year, with a view to achieving planning permission via DCO in 2023 – although a formal timetable is yet to be agreed.
A previous Court of Appeal ruling in February 2020 (adjudging the proposed 3rd runway at Heathrow as “unlawful” by way of confliction with current UK climate targets), has since been quashed by the Supreme Court (December 2020). The ruling states the strategy was legitimately based on previous, less stringent, climate targets at the time it was agreed. This judgement provides an opportunity for a planning application via a Development Consent Order (DCO) to go ahead.
Heathrow Airport
Phase 1 (London to Birmingham) is currently under construction and is due to be completed by 2030.
Following a period of review in 2020, the Department of Transport has confirmed HS2 will go ahead in full, with some small reservations – including priority of northern routes.
HS2
You can keep up to date with Local Plan progression, 5YHLS position and call for sites opportunities through our
You can keep up to date with Local Plan progression, 5YHLS position and call for sites opportunities through our
Select a section of the map below to reveal the Local Plan position, 5-year housing land supply and recent Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results for the Buckinghamshire authorities*.
Live Local Plan Monitor
Live Local Plan Monitor
*From 1 April 2020, the four former districts of Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe (as well as Buckinghamshire County Council) have been replaced by a new, single unitary authority: Buckinghamshire Council. Until a new Buckinghamshire Local Plan is adopted, the adopted Local Plans of the four districts will remain extant – including (if adopted) the emerging Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan.
Until a new Buckinghamshire Local Plan is adopted, the four former districts will continue to publish, and be judged upon, their own area-specific five-year housing land supply. The same applies for the purposes of the Housing Delivery Test.
Housing Delivery Test glossary
For more insight on the future of the Arc, please view our recent research publication,
Refloating the Arc.
EMAIL PETER
07826 890806
Associate Partner, Planning
Peter Canavan
EMAIL JAMES
07780 667005
Partner, Development
James Cordery
EMAIL JAMES
07764 841081
Planner, Planning
James Ellis
EMAIL NEAL
07425 632460
Midlands
Neal Allcock
But what impact would these recommendations, if implemented, have on our planning system and what could they mean for developers? Our planning and development professionals have considered this essential question.
W
C
MK
AV
SB
EMAIL DAVID
07826 890806
Associate Partner, Planning
Peter Canavan
EMAIL DAVID
07764 841081
Planner, Planning
James Ellis
EMAIL FRANCIS
07780 667005
Partner, Development
Francis Truss
James Cordery
EMAIL NEAL
07920 822527
North
Sarah Cox
You can keep up to date with Local Plan progression, 5YHLS position and call for sites opportunities through our
Live Local Plan Monitor
This map illustrates local authorities individual Local Plan positions, their 5-year housing supply, and recent Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results
You can keep up to date with Local Plan progression, 5YHLS position and call for sites opportunities through our
Live Local Plan Monitor
5-year housing supply: