Getting help with planning

The Chilterns Conservation Board employs a full-time planning officer, Dr Matt Thomson, supported by a consultant planning adviser, Dr Mike Stubbs. The work they undertake is supported by other members of staff and a handful of expert volunteers.

Our most important volunteers are our Board members and the Planning Committee. With the oversight and approval of the Board, the Planning Committee sets the principles, policies and priorities that guide our planning and development work, and the Committee has direct oversight over that work.

The principles and policies that we work to are set out in broad terms in the Chilterns AONB Management Plan, and more detail on how these may be implemented can be found in our published advice and guidance.

Our role is to advise planning decision makers – mainly local authorities – on how decisions can be made in ways that conserve and enhance the Chilterns AONB and its setting, while fostering the social and economic well-being of its communities. We also try to support communities, particularly town and parish councils, especially with neighbourhood plans.

We do not make decisions on planning proposals, and planning decision-makers are not obliged to follow our advice.

We do not have the resources to provide planning advice to individuals, organisations or businesses – whether they are proposing development or concerned about its impacts – apart from Town or Parish Councils working on neighbourhood plans. In particular, we are unable to advise on whether planning permission (or other forms of consent) is required for a development project.

If you have a general query about planning, please use one of the options shown in the panel below.

The Chilterns Conservation Board is keen to support Town and Parish Councils within the AONB and its setting with understanding their local environment and shaping the future of their communities and their landscape through neighbourhood planning.

In support of that aim, we have put together an online Neighbourhood Planning Toolkit as part of our Lottery-funded Chalk, Cherries and Chairs project. Anyone interested in helping to shape their community is welcome to use the Toolkit [here].

As a statutory body funded by national and local government, the Chilterns Conservation Board advises decision makers, but must be cautious about campaigning against or lobbying public bodies. There are many voluntary sector organisations that are able to challenge public authorities who may also be able to help residents or communities with concerns about planning in their areas.

A key stakeholder in this respect is the the Chiltern Society, with whom we often work in partnership on conservation and enhancement projects. Links to some of the larger groups are provided below. There are many smaller groups across the Chilterns, including residents’ associations for many towns and villages and ‘friends of’ groups for many open spaces and other locally valued places.

If you want to find out about the work we are doing to influence planning and development, please email us on planning@chilternsaonb.org. You can also telephone us on 01844 355507 (this number is not continuously monitored, but voicemail is available).

For enquiries about a particular development proposal, please can you let us know: the local planning authority (council) area, planning application reference number (if known) and/or a precise location (full address, grid reference, etc). Please see our planning applications page for information on the types of proposals the Conservation Board usually engages with.

If you are concerned about a breach of planning control (a development that does not have planning permission) please contact your local planning authority (council).