Council accused of creating 'north-south divide' in Buckinghamshire with 91,000 home plan

The authority is inviting residents to comment on the plan, which will guide development across the county up to 2045. It outlines how Buckinghamshire could accommodate the homes required under national planning policy.

Under the plans released last month, the council has outlined how it could accommodate an additional 91,000 properties within its area over the next 20 years.

However, councillors from the IMPACT alliance and Liberal Democrats have raised concerns about the distribution of development, infrastructure, affordable housing and the process used to prepare the plan.

Cllr Robin Stuchbury, the Independent leader of the IMPACT alliance and councillor for Buckingham, said: “If ever there has been a time when Buckinghamshire has created a north-south divide, it’s the Buckinghamshire plan.

“It has created a divide between those who are having lots of development in the north and those who are having little development in the south. Unfortunately, the opposition has been left out of this whole process, despite their best efforts in 2023 to request more input.”

Cllr Stuchbury claimed Green Belt protection had been prioritised in southern Buckinghamshire, while communities in the north were expected to accommodate most of the development with insufficient infrastructure.

He added: “With cross-party involvement, we could’ve helped address these issues and additionally looked to provide the much-needed higher numbers of affordable accommodation in South Buckinghamshire.”

Cllr Hazel Arthur-Hewitt, the Labour deputy leader of the IMPACT alliance and councillor for Downley, also criticised the way the plan had been developed. She said: “From the outset, the Local Plan was never subject to genuine cross-party engagement.

“Cabinet kept tight control of the process, excluding opposition leaders and councillors, regardless of their expertise or relevant professional experience, until the plan was presented for consultation.

“We are now being asked to approve a plan despite clear concerns that key needs have not been properly addressed. It falls short on affordable and social housing, parking provision and supporting infrastructure, yet no satisfactory explanation has been provided.”

Cllr Arthur-Hewitt said a plan that would shape communities for decades should be developed transparently, collaboratively and with proper scrutiny.

Liberal Democrat deputy group leader Cllr Jonathan Waters said many residents in northern Buckinghamshire were “furious” about the amount of development proposed for their communities.

He said: “Serious concerns have been raised about infrastructure capacity, including GP provision and a £0.9bn funding gap, as well as questions about affordable housing delivery and the fairness of how growth is distributed across the county.

“These issues deserve careful examination by the Inspector.”

Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet member for planning Cllr Mark Roberts said delays in producing a Local Plan had left Buckinghamshire vulnerable to speculative development.

He added: “The real issue is that the years of delay in producing a Local Plan have left Buckinghamshire wide open to speculative development and ultimately forced work onto a timetable that left inadequate opportunity for residents to shape the outcome.”

The consultation opened on Thursday, July 23, and closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, September 6.