Planning Policy Context

3.1. The parish lies within the county of Buckinghamshire. Buckinghamshire Council is the local planning authority for the area.

National Planning Policy

3.2. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published by the Government is an important guide in the preparation of local plans and neighbourhood plans. The following paragraphs of the latest NPPF version published in December 2023 are considered especially relevant:

  • Neighbourhood Planning (§28 – §30)
  • Village/Town Centres (§88 – §90
  • Promoting healthy and safe communities (§96 – §97)
  • Open space and recreation (§102 – §103)
  • Local Green Spaces (§104 – §107)
  • Promoting sustainable travel (§108)
  • High quality design (§135)
  • Conserving and enhancing the natural environment (§180 – §182)
  • Conserving and enhancing the historic environment (§195 – §209)
  • Planning for climate change (§159, §162)

3.3 The most recent iteration of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out transitional arrangements for neighbourhood plans. It states in §234 that plans submitted for Regulation 15 before 12 March 2025 will be examined under the previous iteration of the NPPF (December 2023). Plans submitted after 12 March 2025 will be examined under the latest iteration of the NPPF (December 2024). The 2024 NPPF states in §232 that policies assessed against the old framework should not be considered ‘out of date’ for decision-making purposes. Weight will continue to be given to policies according to their degree of consistency with the latest version of the NPPF.

Strategic Planning Policy

3.5. The Neighbourhood Plan must be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan, which primarily comprises the saved policies of the South Bucks District Local Plan adopted in March 1999 and the South Bucks Core Strategy adopted February 2011. All of these policies predate the NPPF, but most are considered to be consistent with it and so until they are replaced they will continue to operate in determining planning applications.

3.6. The Core Strategy defines Burnham as a ‘principal settlement’. The Parish currently lies entirely within the Green Belt, but the built-up area of Burnham is ‘inset’ from the Green Belt. The Local Plan allocated two sites at Gore Road and Lent Rise Road, both have now been completed. There are also a number of development management policies in both documents that cover a wide range of matters affecting the parish, including its Local Shopping Centre, Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings, priority habitats, SSSIs, and Ancient Woodland (see Plan G). 

3.7. Buckinghamshire Council has begun the process of bringing forward its first Local Plan for the county of Buckinghamshire. The current Local Development Scheme proposes to adopt the new Plan by 2027. It is therefore at too early a stage to inform the Neighbourhood Plan; however, some updated evidence has been published which has informed the preparation of this Neighbourhood Plan.

3.8. Under the previous method for calculating housing requirements, Buckinghamshire Council was expected to deliver 2,912 homes per year. Under the new standard method, introduced at the end of 2024, this number has increased by 48% to 4,319.

3.9. The Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2016-2036 also forms part of the Development Plan and apply in the neighbourhood area. The entirety of the Parish lies within a Minerals Safeguarding Area for alluvium whilst there is also an area of clay-with-flints around East Burnham (see Plan F). Their normal effect is to sterilise land from development prior to extraction unless it is clear that the development site will not prejudice the economic extraction of the mineral. 

A map showing the Local Plan minerals and waste polices in relation to Burnham
Plan F: Minerals and Waste Local Plan Policies Map Burnham extract

3.10. Buckinghamshire Council has also adopted a number of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and other guidance which are material considerations when planning applications are determined. The most relevant to the designated neighbourhood area include:

  • South Bucks Residential Design Guide SPD adopted October 2008
  • South Bucks Affordable Housing SPD adopted July 2013
  • Burnham Beeches SAC Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy SPD adopted November 2020 and Hydrology and Recreation Reports
  • Biodiversity Net Gain SPD adopted July 2022
  • Travel Plans: Guidelines for developers published July 2022
  • Parking guidance for new development published September 2022

3.11. The Burnham Beeches SAC SPD introduces zones of influence around the Burnham Beeches SAC as part of its Mitigation Strategy. The Mitigation Strategy seeks to address the requirement to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts on the integrity of Burnham Beeches SAC mainly due to recreational pressures. A 500m presumption against development zone and a 5.6km zone of influence (see Plan D) is operational. There is a presumption against development or increase of dwellings within the zone of 500m of the linear boundary of the SAC and financial contributions are sought from all net new residential development within the 500 metres – 5.6km zone of influence. 

Neighbourhood Planning Policy

3.12. The parishes of The Farnhams to the east, Taplow to the west, Dorney to the south and Hedgerley to the north are currently preparing neighbourhood plans. The Farnhams Regulation 16 consultation stage concluded in September 2024. Others have not yet reached any formal stages. There are green infrastructure functionality and connectivity matters which will work across parish boundaries and the detail of those at their formal stages have informed this plan. 

The Local Plan for Slough

3.13. The Proposed Spatial Strategy for Slough consultation ended in January 2021. The strategy proposes that nearly all of the Borough’s growth will take place in the centre of Slough, however it notes that there may need to be some release of Green Belt sites on the edge of Slough to meet housing needs. The Council published its ‘Proposed Release of Green Belt Land for Family Housing’ consultation document in November 2021 which does not identify any sites in Burnham. 

3.14. The document also notes that the ideas for the northern expansion of Slough, outside the parish boundary but which would have an impact on the designated neighbourhood area, remain an option. However, the strategy recognises that it is one option of many that are currently being assessed and its conclusions will be published in a Draft Local Plan. Its publication timetable is yet to be agreed.

3.15. The strategy also reverts back to restraining development in order to protect the Green Belt, Colne Valley Park and Strategic Gap between Slough and Greater London in the absence of any policy support or any demonstrable need for the expansion of Heathrow airport. The Strategy does not address or recognise the proposed changes to calculating housing need which may have an impact on the number of homes needed to be accommodated in Slough and Buckinghamshire.

Burnham and Huntercombe Conservation Areas

3.16. Both the Burnham Conservation Area (see Plan H) and the Huntercombe Conservation Area (see Plan I) were designated in 1977. Conservation Areas were introduced by the Civic Amenities Act of 1967, to protect areas of special interest as opposed to individual buildings. Since 1967 some 8,000 conservation areas have been designated in England. Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 local authorities have a duty to designate conservation areas and from time to time to review the boundaries. Such areas are defined as ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’.

3.17. The main attributes that define the special character of an area are its physical appearance and history, i.e. the form and features of buildings and the spaces between them, their former uses and historical development. Where there are a number of periods of historical development, the character of individual parts of the conservation area may differ. Contrasts between the appearance of areas and the combination of buildings of various ages, materials and styles may contribute to its special character.

Plan H: Burnham Conservation Area
Plan I: Huntercombe Conservation Area