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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, which will be called the Wycombe Development Framework (WDF). We are consulting 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 will be made up of the following documents:

Local Development Scheme

As part of the new 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:

• Portlands Development Brief
• Residential Intensification Design Guidance
• Developer contributions
• Developer contributions calculator

We also produced a Climate Change SPD for consultation over the summer 2007. However the future of the document is currently under discussion due to the Planning White Paper proposing that targets of this nature should be part of a DPD rather than an SPD. Our website will be updated when there is further news.

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.

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.
View the annual monitoring report.

Technical studies to inform the Wycombe Development Framework

One way we are preparing for the new WDF is through a number of studies:

• 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 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.

In addition, a document can be downloaded showing the development principles for the Compair and De La Rue sites in the Hughenden Corridor.

Documents to download

• Summary of National Planning Guidance
  Summarises current and draft Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Planning Policy Statements
  (pdf | 224kB | 56k Modem - 37 sec, Broadband - 4 sec)
• Creating Better Places to Live: A guide to the planning system in England
  Office of the Deputy rime Minister publication introducing to the new planning system
  (pdf | 418kB | 56k Modem - 1 min 10 sec, Broadband - 7 sec)
• Site Principles for Compair and De La Rue
  (pdf | 1.5MB | 56k Modem - 4 min 4 sec, Broadband - 23 sec)
• Risborough 2035 Final Report
  (pdf | 6.5MB | 56k Modem - 18 min 55 sec, Broadband - 2 min 41 sec)
• Risborough 2035 Executive Summary 2006
  (pdf | 156kB | 56k Modem - 26 sec, Broadband - 2 sec)