Area-based guidance

Some of our area-based guidance documents are available to download below. This includes Development Briefs and Concept Statements for sites.

Print copies of these are available by email request. Please note there is a charge for some printed copies.

More about planning fees.

Local Development Order

A Local Development Order (LDO) has been established to cover the White Hart Street/Queen Square/Church Street area of High Wycombe town centre. The order has the effect of granting planning permission for specified uses on the ground floor levels of shop units in this area of the town.

Its aim is to assist in the regeneration of this historic but vulnerable area, and to ensure that the environmental quality of the area is not undermined by an unhealthy level of vacant premises in this block. The LDO is designed to supplement a range of other policies and initiatives which are being progressed by the Council and partner bodies to help regenerate this important pocket of High Wycombe town centre.

The LDO covers the area bounded by White Hart Street (northern side), Church Street (southern and western sides), Queen Square (eastern and western sides) and Oxford Street (southern side, between Bull Lane and Queen Square). There is a map in the Local Development Order document which can be downloaded below.

A summary of the LDO, some frequently asked questions and a statement of reasons are available to download below.

Lacey Green and Loosley Row village design statement (PDF | 2.0MB)
Full document for download
PDF | 2.0MB
Downley Village Design Statement (PDF | 631KB)
Statement setting out the distinct village character of Downley.
PDF | 631KB
Ellesborough Village Design Statement (PDF | 11.0MB)
Statement setting out the distinct village character of Ellesborough.
PDF | 11.0MB
Terriers First School development brief (PDF | 562KB)
Sets out Wycombe District Councils planning requirements and expectations for the future development of the Terriers First School site in High Wycombe.
PDF | 562KB
Bellfield First and Middle Schools, Garratts Way, development brief (PDF | 617KB)
Sets out Wycombe District Councils planning requirements and expectations for the future development of the Bellfield First and Middle School site in Garratts Way, High Wycombe.
PDF | 617KB
Little Marlow gravel pits SPG.pdf (PDF | 2.0MB)
Supplementary Planning Guidance setting out the Council's planning requirements and expectations for the future development of the site.
PDF | 2.0MB
Local Development Order
Local Development Order - document (PDF | 323KB)
This is the Local Development Order which gives planning permission for certain changes within the LDO area. A map of the area is included.
PDF | 323KB
Local Development Order - FAQs (Word Doc | 1.0MB)
Question and answers on the Local Development Order
Word Doc | 1.0MB
Local Development Order - summary (Word Doc | 1.0MB)
A summary of the Local Development Order and its implications
Word Doc | 1.0MB
Local Development Order - Statement of Reasons (Word Doc | 4.0MB)
The context and justification for the Local Development Framework.
Word Doc | 4.0MB
Riley Road M4 Development Brief
Riley Road M4 brief approved April 2009 (PDF | 2.0MB)
Riley Road M4 Development Brief Approved April 2009 - full document.
PDF | 2.0MB
Riley Road M4 brief appendix approved April 2009 (PDF | 405KB)
Riley Road M4 Development Brief Appendix Approved April 2009 - full document.
PDF | 405KB
Cressex Gateway Concept Statements
Handy Cross concept statement.pdf (PDF | 2.0MB)
This concept statement sets out the our preferred approach to development at Handy Cross and should act as a starting point for planning applications.
PDF | 2.0MB
Cressex Island concept statement.pdf (PDF | 5.0MB)
This report sets out the our preferred approach to development at Cressex Island and should act as a starting point for planning applications.
PDF | 5.0MB
High Wycombe Railway Station
High Wycombe station development brief (PDF | 1.0MB)
Development brief for the Railway Station originally adopted 1998 and updated 2001.
PDF | 1.0MB
Hughenden Quarter Concept Statement
Hughenden Quarter Concept Statement (PDF | 6.0MB)
Brief to guide development of the Hughenden area, adopted in November 2007 and updated in 2010.
PDF | 6.0MB
Leigh Street Quarter Brief
Leigh Street quarter Development Brief (PDF | 1.0MB)
Non-statutory development brief for redevelopment of the area.
PDF | 1.0MB
Leigh Street quarter brief appendices approved (PDF | 356KB)
Details of the responses Wycombe District Council received to consultation on Leigh Street Quarter area Non-statutory Development Brief and extracts from key planning policy documents.
PDF | 356KB
Picts Lane and station area Non-statutory Development Brief
Picts Lane and Station area non statutory brief (PDF | 976KB)
Non-statutory development brief for redevelopment of the area.
PDF | 976KB
Picts Lane and Station area non statutory brief summary of consultation responses (PDF | 58KB)
Details of the responses Wycombe District Council received to consultation on Picts Lane and Station area Non-statutory Development Brief.
PDF | 58KB
Great Marlow School Non-statutory Development Brief
Great Marlow school non-statutory development brief (PDF | 4.0MB)
Non-statutory development brief for land at Great Marlow School.
PDF | 4.0MB
Great Marlow school development brief consultation comments and response (PDF | 144KB)
A summary of comments received and Wycombe District Council's response to those comments.
PDF | 144KB
Portlands Development Brief
Portlands Development Brief cover and contents (PDF | 413KB)
Front cover and list of contents
PDF | 413KB
Portlands Development Brief - Part 1 (PDF | 1.0MB)
Introduction describes how the preparation of the brief enables the next stage of the policy for the site (Policy M5) as set out in the adopted Wycombe District Local Plan (2004).
PDF | 1.0MB
Portlands Development Brief - part 2 (PDF | 1.0MB)
The urban design rationale - a series of community consultations suggesting a set of basic design principles.
PDF | 1.0MB
Portlands Development Brief - part 3 (PDF | 1011KB)
Urban design principles - built form includes characteristics, energy and resource conservation, urban form and scale, biodiversity and ecology, site boundary treatment, car parking principles.
PDF | 1011KB
Portlands Development Brief - part 4 (PDF | 563KB)
Urban design principles - public realm includes pedestrian and cyclist movement, vehicular access and circulation, rear servicing, verdant nature of the site, open space allocation, street furniture, bin stores.
PDF | 563KB
Portlands Development Brief - part 5 (PDF | 552KB)
Next steps towards implementation, contact list and a list of local plan policies that affect this area.
PDF | 552KB
Portlands Sustainability Appraisal (PDF | 150KB)
Statement of Supplementary Planning Document matters, associated documents, consultation statement and sustainability appraisal.
PDF | 150KB
The Adoption Statement (PDF | 31KB)
Formally adopted by the council on 23 September 2005. SPD includes: Portlands Development Brief, Portlands Sustainability Appraisal and this Adoption Statement
PDF | 31KB
Summary of representations to the initial consultation and WDC's responses (PDF | 334KB)
Table that details the respondent, the issue raised, the respondent's proposed action and WDC's response/action.
PDF | 334KB
Summary of representations on the Amended Draft Portlands Development Brief: June-July 2005 (PDF | 198KB)
A table that details the respondent, the issue raised, the respondent's proposed action and Wycombe District Council's response/action.
PDF | 198KB

Planning policy
Wycombe District Council
01494 421 581
Email Planning policy