Policy information sourced from South Bucks Core Strategy Development Plan Document

Core Policy 8: Built and Historic Environment

The protection and, where appropriate, enhancement of the District’s historic environment is of paramount importance. In particular, nationally designated historic assets and their settings, for example Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Grade I, II* and II listed buildings, will have the highest level of protection.

Locally important heritage features and their settings also make an important contribution to the creation of distinctive and sustainable places and will also be protected, conserved and enhanced where appropriate. The protection and where appropriate enhancement of historic landscapes (including archaeological sites, Historic Parks and Gardens and Ancient Woodlands) and townscapes, especially those that make a particular contribution to local character and distinctiveness, will be informed by evidence, for example, characterisation studies such as the Bucks Historic Landscape Characterisation Study.

All new development must be of a high standard of design and make a positive contribution to the character of the surrounding area. To help achieve this, character areas will be identified in settlements excluded from the Green Belt in a subsequent DPD. The Council will also continue its programme of reviewing existing Conservation Areas and designating new Conservation Areas where appropriate.

New development should be designed to help tackle the causes of, and be resilient to the effects of, climate change.

On land excluded from the Green Belt, new housing should be built at an average density of between 25 and 35 dwellings per hectare. However, actual densities may be higher or lower than this, to reflect factors such as the accessibility of the site and the character of the surrounding area.

Development proposals will be expected to accord with Secured by Design principles to achieve crime prevention, reduce the fear of crime and improve other aspects of community safety.

For more information please see the Core Strategy Development Plan Document