Planning

The threats to the Chilterns will not go away; the demands for new housing, for commercial developments, for increased leisure activities, are real and require a response.

Our aim is to encourage high standards of town and country planning and architecture, and stimulate public interest in, and care for, the beauty, history and character of the Chiltern Hills.

What we do
• Monitor and respond to planning proposals in specific parts of the Chilterns.
• Act as respected consultants to Local Authorities regarding Structure and Local Plans.
• Examine and respond to draft Government guidance documents.
• Represent the Society at Public Enquiries and Examinations in Public.
• Attend Parliamentary Environmental Committees.

Current issues of concern
• Regional Plans for the SEast Region and the East Region
• The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill (2003)
• Traffic Management, including Service Areas on the M40
• Airport developments at Luton and Heathrow
• Telecommunication mast siting
• Railway developments, such as the Central Railway proposal
• Major Local Planning Applications

Policies
A number of Planning Policy documents have been prepared and approved by the Executive Council. These are used, together with various National and Local Government Guidance, to ensure a common approach in our consultations with Government Authorities.

Current policy documents cover
• Affordable Housing
• Farm Building Conversion
• Golf Courses
• Luton Airport
• Main Rail Lines through the Chilterns
• Motorway Service Areas
• Strategic Roads
• Superstores
• Telecommunication Masts

Follow 'More' at the bottom of this page for more about the above.

Planning Field Officers (PFOs)
We have a team of twenty four Planning Field Officers (PFOs ), organised according to the major Planning Authorities in the Chilterns: Chiltern, South Bucks, Aylesbury Vale, South Beds, Herts, South Oxon, and Wycombe. The team is coordinated by Local Convenors, and includes some twenty Planning Assistants. (For Planning Field Officers' details, navigate to: 'Contact us' > 'Directory').

Advisors
The PFO's are backed by professionally qualified advisors covering major aspects such as:
• Airports
• Geology and Environment
• Landscape
• Planning Strategy
• Telecommunications
• Transport & Engineering

Volunteers
We would be glad to hear from you if you can offer any assistance to our Planning activities – not necessarily specialist experience – particularly in the Northern Chilterns.