Aylesbury Vale Chamber of Commerce, Wycombe & South Bucks Chamber of Commerce

Introduction
The Chamber awaits the formal consultation on the Deposit Draft County Structure Plan. Our comments refer specifically to the issues identified in the Shaping the Future
newspaper – Consultations on Options.

Chamber View
Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe and South Bucks Chamber identified the key issues of concern to business in the county in our Visions for Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe and South Bucks. The four areas of most concern to business are planning, transport, crime and education.

Housing
We support the priority of development in existing areas and suggest the sequential concept of development is appropriate for the county. Sufficient housing must be built to satisfy household and economic need. We note that the original 68000+ was reduced to 48000 and would warn against imposing an unrealistically small number of developments. Our view is that the appropriate number is somewhere between the two figures. The current plans propose around 6100 new houses throughout the county.

The issue of affordable housing must be addresses if we are to maintain a successful local economy. We believe that there should be a proper mix of housing which takes account of everyone’s need to live and work locally. Every community has a requirement for people of different income levels. We believe that approved development should not only provide accommodation for mixed home usage, including meeting the needs of single people but should include provision for small business development such as offices, service repair, nurseries etc in addition to the usual pub, school and health centre. Such an approach would encourage jobs in local communities.

Transport
Public transport and transport investment must improve if the vitality of the county is to be maintained. We are concerned that councils see traffic management initiatives as the main method of managing transport. We believe that this approach is doomed to failure and abrogates council responsibilities to devise, manage and implement a successful transport strategy.

Questionnaire
The proposed questionnaire is a blunt tool in such a complex area. For this reason we have highlighted areas for comments under each appropriate section.

Q1 Where new homes should be built

We support a focus on intensive town development. However, greenfield development should also be considered where most appropriate. To ignore such potential development would be unacceptable. The key point is to allow development where it would have the most economic and social benefit.

Q3 Balancing jobs with worker availability

(2a) The balance must be on improving public transport. It is unacceptable that traffic management and parking is tightened without major improvements in infrastructure and public transport. This is one of the most serious issues facing local government. Restricting travel is not the appropriate approach.

Q4 The kind of local economy that should be encouraged

The economy of the UK and the South East has been moving towards high value production for many years. It is the Chamber’s view that this move will continue but must not be at the expense of developing a broad based local economy.

Q5 Transport Links

The hard fact is that that transport links must be improved throughout the county. Unless this fundamental fact is grasped and acted upon the county will remain gridlock. Constraining development to existing locations appears attractive until it is considered that current transport policies to existing locations are not working. What evidence do we have that anything better will be put in place in the future?

Suggestions to curtail transport will not work unless there is a substantial improvement in public transport.

Q9 House Building Options

Option A Most new houses in Aylesbury and Wycombe
Option B Most new houses distributed throughout 4 districts with most in South of
county
Option C Most new homes to boost local workforce / jobs (Wycombe)
Option D Most new homes built in Aylesbury Vale because of transport infrastructure

The Chamber wishes to consider this matter more fully and will respond during the
formal consultation period. Our initial view is that options A and B are preferable but we
need to consult further with members before coming to a definitive opinion.

Charles Lewis Chairman Aylesbury Vale Chamber
Peter Cullimore Chairman Wycombe and South Bucks Chamber
Bucksccstructureplanoptions114/6/02
Email: policy@thamesvalleychamber.co.uk