Thinking of buying a Plot of Land in South Bucks?

The Council has become aware of the intensive marketing of plots of land on a number of large areas of land in the Green Belt in South Bucks. The plots are promoted as an investment opportunity with the suggestion that planning permission for housing development will be forthcoming at some time in the future.

Before completing any purchase of land members of the public are advised that they can check whether the land they are interested in is in the Green Belt in the South Bucks Development Plan. This currently comprises the South Bucks Local Plan, which sets out the District Council's position regarding possible development in the Green Belt.

The Local Development Framework will eventually replace the Local Plan. The key document in the Local Development Framework is the Core Strategy. This has now been submitted to the Government for its Examination. Please see “Core Strategy Development Plan Document ” page for more details. In it you will see that the Council is vehemently committed to the protection and enhancement of the Green Belt. 

In addition, the Core Strategy and its evidence base demonstrate that the Council can meet its development requirements at least to 2026 without the need for the release of any land from the Green Belt for development.

Therefore if the plot of land you are interested in is currently in the Green Belt it is very likely to remain as Green Belt – in which case the strongest policies of restraint upon development will still apply.

Please give serious consideration to the above points before purchasing any plots advertised as an investment opportunity. It is likely that they are not.