Wycombe Development Framework

The Planning and Compensation Act, which came into force in September 2004, introduced a new system of "Plan-making" to replace the existing system of Local Plans and Structure Plans, with a system of Local Development Frameworks (LDF). LDFs will consist of a series of documents that set out the policies and proposals for the use of land.

We are now preparing an LDF, called the Wycombe Development Framework (WDF). We consult on the WDF through the Imagine the Future consultations.

You can download the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Guide to the Planning System and Summaries of National Planning Policy below.

The Wycombe Development Framework is made up of the following documents:

Local Development Scheme

As part of our LDF, we have to prepare a Local Development Scheme (LDS) and agree this with the Government. This sets out the documents that our Policy team will produce over the next three years for the Wycombe Development Framework. We have an updated LDS approved by the Government Office for the South East (GoSE).

The documents within the LDS will gradually take the place of the Local Plan to inform decision-making.
View the Local Development Scheme

Statement of Community Involvement

As part of the WDF, we have to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). This document sets out how the community can be involved in, and consulted on, the preparation of the WDF and significant planning applications.
View the adopted SCI document.

Development Plan Documents

Development Plan Documents (or DPDs) set out the main strategy and policies for the WDF. Unlike the Local Plan this is split into a number of different documents:

• Core Strategy
• Site Allocations

View representations on the WDF submission core strategy and the pre-examination changes
(Link opens in new browser window).

Find out about the examination of the Core Strategy

Supplementary Planning Documents

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) cover a range of issues and give more detailed information on the policies within the WDF:

• Living Within Our Limits: Reducing the Environmental Footprint of New Development.
• Residential Intensification Design Guidance
• Developer contributions
• Developer contributions calculator

Sustainability Appraisal

The Sustainability Appraisal process assesses the policies within the WDF to ensure they are compatible with the aims of sustainability, and achieving high levels of environmental, social and economic performance. Sustainability Appraisals can be found with each document where required.

Annual Monitoring Report

The Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) contains information showing how our planning policies, as set out in the Local Plan and the emerging Wycombe Development Framework, are performing against key indicators. You can download the Annual Monitoring Report 2009 and its accompanying Technical Appendices below.

Technical studies to inform the Wycombe Development Framework

• Strategic Housing Market Assessment
• Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
• Economy and Land for Business
• Urban Capacity
• Housing market assessment
• Retail and Town Centre Uses
• High Wycombe Master Plan Vision
• Open Spaces

More about the technical studies

The Risboroughs 2035

We commissioned this report that sets out a thirty year vision for the communities of Princes Risborough and its surrounding area. This is not a formal Wycombe Development Framework document. You can download the executive summary, or the document in full, below.