Aylesbury Vale

A growing district

Aylesbury Vale is about to begin one of the most exciting eras in its history. Identified as a growth area in the Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan, the next ten years will see the start of significant growth resulting in tremendous opportunities for everyone who lives, works or runs a business in Aylesbury Vale.

The Vale envisages up to 59,000 additional dwellings being built between 2001 and 2031 and up to 28,000 new jobs over the same period. Aylesbury town is scheduled to grow by around 55% by 2021 with around 14,100 additional homes anticipated being built. Currently, there are about 66,000 homes housing a population of around 166,000. These proposals mean that the Vale’s population could grow to around 300,000.

Vision for a vibrant Aylesbury Vale

The Council’s vision is for – A Vibrant Aylesbury Vale – drawn from the views of key stakeholders in the district. The vision, developed through consultation with all sectors of the community, is a blueprint for the District Council and its partners to ensure that the Vale’s two most important characteristics – what it looks like and what it feels like to live in the Vale – are developed sensitively.

The vision for the future of the Vale is of a sustainable network of thriving, vibrant communities, where everyone cares about the quality of the local environment and where everyone feels able to make a contribution. It envisages a lively, inclusive Aylesbury Vale with plenty of new job opportunities, good quality shops, facilities and services.

Aylesbury Vale Today

A study commissioned by the District Council highlighted that Aylesbury Vale is a district with unfulfilled potential. The past decade has seen its economy grow only moderately, with employment increasing by 11%, half of that achieved in the South-East as a whole.

The District has enormous strengths:

• A diverse economic base
• A highly skilled workforce
• Low unemployment rates (1.1% of the working age population)
• A range of employment space at rates that compare well with those of competing locations

It’s an excellent strategic location:

• Well positioned for accessing most parts of the country
• Links to the south (M25), the east (M1) and the west (M40)
• Less than an hour from Heathrow
• Close to business and cultural centres such as Oxford, London and Milton Keynes

It enjoys a good quality of life – urban and rural:

• A mature county town
• Thriving market towns and villages
• A strong sense of community
• Good cultural, heritage and shopping experiences
• Swathes of open countryside, areas of outstanding beauty
• Good schools and higher than average qualification levels

Making our Vision a reality

The challenge for Aylesbury Vale and its partners will be to establish Aylesbury Vale as an economic powerhouse. To do this, important steps have been taken. A partnership, Delivery 2031, has been set up to drive the growth and make sure all the infrastructure needed to support the growth is in place at the right time. Its board of 17 includes representatives from Aylesbury Vale, the County Council, the South East of England Development Agency, English Partnerships, the Primary Care Trust, businesses and the voluntary sector. Vision 2031, a second partnership, has been established to oversee the delivery of the broader vision for the district, with a membership of over 50, drawn from the private, public and voluntary sectors.

The Council, with its partners has developed an Economic Development Strategy to create a vibrant Aylesbury Vale economy. It will improve the Vale’s ‘offer’ from a business perspective through promoting employment space, providing business support and developing infrastructure. Plans are already underway for the Aylesbury Vale Enterprise Hub, which will open in 2005.

A Marketing Strategy is currently being developed which will create an identity for the District. The strategy will build on the District’s strengths and promote opportunities such as the £100 million Aylesbury Waterside scheme and the Aston Clinton Business Park. The strong image being developed for the Vale will emphasise it as a great place to live, work, visit and do business.

For Further information, or for copies of: A Vibrant Aylesbury Vale, Aylesbury Vale Economic Development Strategy, District Link Magazine and The Vibe Magazine, contact: Teresa Lane on 01296 585006.

Alternatively, visit the web sites at: www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and www.valevibe.info