[HTS-members] New Local plan questions

Thu Mar 26 11:18:52 GMT 2015

Dear Member

You may not be aware but South Bucks District Council has been required by
the government to produce a new Local Plan. To start this it has launched an
initial public consultation. This mail gives you the background to this and
requests your response on matters that concern you. The survey closes on
April 24th, so responses need to be quite fast.

South Bucks District Council consultation document is available at: 

 <http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6399&p=0>
http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6399&p=0 

You can write directly:

SBDC at:                               ldf at southbucks.gov.uk

Taplow Parish:                   <mailto:taplow.pc at googlemail.com>
taplow.pc at googlemail.com

Ourselves:                           <mailto:secretary at taplowsociety.org.uk>
secretary at taplowsociety.org.uk

If you do so, would you please copy the other addresses so that we are all
aware of opinions.

In particular, the Parish Council has set up an on-line survey tool through
which you can respond to a set of questions prepared by the Parish Council,
which will ease their construction of a Parish view. This can be found at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D7R3KMJ#
<https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D7R3KMJ> 

The Parish Council would like any responses to the survey to be returned by
April 17th to give them time to consolidate the views.

Roger Worthington

Secretary, Hitcham and Taplow Society

07787556309

The following section is a briefing written by Taplow Parish Council and
gives relevant web site addresses.

South Bucks District Council (SBDC) has commenced the process of public
consultation for what will become the new Local Plan, a strategic document
that will shape the growth of the district for the foreseeable future.  It
will replace current local planning legislation, most of which is, or is
becoming, out of date.  Like all local authorities in England, SBDC must
assess a local need for housing and other development and address these
needs locally and this means there will be (much) greater development
pressure within the district.  This will include the provision of 7,000 new
homes by 2036.

The vast majority of the district (87% outside of the main settlements) is
currently designated as Metropolitan Green Belt, which enjoys planning
protection against development in order to achieve five key purposes: 

1.       to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;

2.       to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another;

3.       to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;

4.       to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns;
and

5.       to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of
derelict and other urban land.

In the future there is likely to be a conflict between providing new areas
for development, principally housing, and conserving the Green Belt.  The
Taplow Parish Green Belt is of regional and national significance because of
the attractive natural setting it provides for locations of historical,
sporting and leisure importance.  It also contains a vital piece of
strategic Green Belt which separates the urban developments of Maidenhead
and Burnham and Slough.  In turn this stretch of Green Belt forms part of a
larger swathe of Green Belt stretching from Beaconsfield to Windsor.  

The accessibility of Taplow Parish with its bordering by two motorways and
the major railway line crossing it makes it particularly attractive to
developers and there will be great pressure to use the Green Belt.  The
pressure will be even greater in the near future as Taplow Parish will soon
be connected to London by Crossrail.  This will add rail capacity and
significantly reduce journey times to London.  Indeed, because of its rail
links, one academic in favour of building on the Green Belt has publicly
identified Taplow Parish as an ideal location for 25,000 homes!

The amount and location of any development must also take into account not
only permanent loss of Green Belt land and the protection its notation
provides but the affect that traffic generation will have on the surrounding
areas, not only in terms of ease of movement but the inevitable downgrading
of the rural character due to white lining, road widening, extra signage and
kerbing. This rural character is an essential component in support of the
role of the Parish as a regional amenity area.

It is therefore vitally important that the residents of Taplow Parish, and
those who work here, are aware of this wider planning context and its
implications for the future of the Parish.  The Parish Council is seeking
the widest possible engagement of residents to define how Taplow Parish
should be treated in the new SBDC Local Plan as it is drafted over the next
two years.  A series of questions (below) is designed to explore what
matters most to Taplovians and also to identify positive areas for
development, because a purely negative or blanket 'nimby' response will not
carry much weight.  

There may be areas within the Parish where sustainable development can be
achieved and also other areas which are important but which do not currently
enjoy Green Belt protection or where that protection may be eroded in the
future.  This is our opportunity to protect the best of Taplow Parish and to
guide and inform its future growth in the most socially and environmentally
sustainable manner.  Although the process of drafting the plan will take
time it is essential that our involvement begins now and is maintained
throughout its evolution.  

There are several background documents which may be relevant:

The South Bucks District Council consultation document is available at:
<http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6399&p=0>
http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6399&p=0 

A plan of South Bucks District is available at:
<https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/601295/districts-map.pdf>
https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/601295/districts-map.pdf

There are several plans covering South Bucks District Green Belt, the most
relevant to Taplow are available at:

 <http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3505&p=0>
http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3505&p=0 

 <http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3511&p=0>
http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3511&p=0

 <http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3515&p=0>
http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3515&p=0

and a key is available at:
<http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3497&p=0>
http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3497&p=0 

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