Meeting documents

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All plans (SE Plan/ WDF/ C Plan) are presently in their initial stages of preparation.

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SE Plan time horizon is to 2026 – same as for Community Plan.  

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WDF time horizon is to 2016 but, because SE Plan won’t be approved until 2006/ 07, the WDF has to be prepared in context of existing approved regional/ County plans.  Nevertheless it needs to take account of how the regional plan may change and if possible be robust to that.

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Trends (across South-East but also for WDC) suggest that over next 20 years there will be:

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An ageing population and a falling supply of local labour

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Increasing shortages of housing, increased commuting and traffic congestion

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Recent public attitude surveys put difficulties of cost/ access to housing and transport as the key concerns – but with a desire not to see major change/ deterioration of the environment

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SE Plan will address options of much higher housing growth including arising from Barker Review

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Wycombe District is in two sub-regional study areas – ‘Western Corridor’ and ‘London Fringe’

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Presently there is a broad balance between labour supply, jobs and between in and out commuting

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Maintaining such a balance appears to be a core objective which should underpin the WDF and sub-regional policy relating to the Wycombe area - to avoid overheating or it becoming a dormitory area

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Extensive Green Belt, AONB, character of urban areas and infrastructure constraints lead to concerns over growth – but there is also concern for a healthy economy and adequate affordable housing.

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Current economy study (final report in July) is considering the planning strategy for a healthy economy - recent trends/ SEEDA aspirations suggest replacement of old manufacturing industry with more high value manufacturing and service industry – often with different land requirements.  Major retail expansion in HW has implications for labour needs/ wage levels.

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However if we increase our employment land/ job levels without increased housing levels we will face local labour shortages and increased in-commuting

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Presently some 380 extra dwellings come forward each year, most on brown field sites, allowing urban density to increase.  This produces some affordable housing but far less than needed.

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Major expansion at Milton Keynes/ Aylesbury will increase traffic to/ from Thames Valley through Wycombe/ AONB, prompting need for better transport links. Consideration needed to rail improvements/ inter-urban coach services/ Handy Cross coachway and road improvements outside of the AONB to relieve pressure on A4010/ AONB.

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Imbalances could arise if housing (incl. affordable) provided by Aylesbury/Milton Keynes is out of step with jobs/ ‘need’ in that area compared with Wycombe - leading to more commuting and family separation.

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Growth in ethnic minority population is significant as an economic/ social driver of change.

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Do we want to see the Western Corridor sub-region as a growth area for housing and, if so, in what locations should growth be focused?

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Do we see Wycombe District as a point for growth or a place for consolidation?

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Whichever we opt for, what is our vision for quality of life and protection of the environment?

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Do we wish to promote/ oppose particular transport measures to counter the projected worsening of traffic conditions?

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Do we want Green Belt policy/ extent of the Green Belt to be reviewed in the SE Plan to allow for some growth in key (sustainable) locations in the region/ in WDC?