Policy information sourced from South Bucks Core Strategy Development Plan Document

Core Policy 9: Natural Environment

The highest priority will be given to the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the integrity of Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation.

The conservation and enhancement of the Chilterns AONB and its setting will be achieved by ensuring that all development complies with the purposes of the AONB and its Management Plan. The conservation and enhancement of Burnham Beeches SAC, and its surrounding supporting biodiversity resources, will be achieved through restricting the amount of development in close proximity to the site, and ensuring that development causes no adverse effect on the integrity of the SAC. Further details on mechanisms for achieving this will be given in the Development Management DPD.

More generally, the landscape characteristics and biodiversity resources within South Bucks will be conserved and enhanced by:

  • Not permitting new development that would harm landscape character or nature conservation interests, unless the importance of the development outweighs the harm caused, the Council is satisfied that the development cannot reasonably be located on an alternative site that would result in less or no harm and appropriate mitigation or compensation is provided, resulting in a net gain in Biodiversity.
  • Seeking the conservation, enhancement and net gain in local biodiversity resources within the Biodiversity Opportunity Areas, on other non-designated land, on rivers and their associated habitats, and as part of development proposals.
  • Maintaining existing ecological corridors and avoiding habitat fragmentation.
  • Conserving and enhancing landscapes, informed by Green Infrastructure Plans and the District Council’s Landscape Character Assessment.
  • Improving the rural/urban fringe by supporting and implementing initiatives in the Colne Valley Park Action Plan.
  • Seeking biodiversity, recreational, leisure and amenity improvements for the River Thames setting where opportunities arise, for example at Mill Lane (see Core Policy 15).

Further guidance on the protection and enhancement of landscape and biodiversity resources will be given in the Development Management DPD.

For more information please see the Core Strategy Development Plan Document