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LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS
Local Development Frameworks
are replacing the existing
Local Plan system, which sets out the
local planning policy for determining how development proposals will be
considered by Local Authorities.
Despite allegedly being a simpler, faster and more flexible system, even those of us who have been around the block more than once on the policy front are struggling to come to terms with the new system. Far greater minds than mine have found it difficult to comprehend and many of the early attempts produced by Authorities have been rejected and sent back for another go. Don't worry therefore if this section seems rather bewildering - it probably is.
A Local
Development Framework (LDF) is a folder of at least ten local
development documents (LDD's) - some required and some optional - that
outlines how planning matters will be managed in your area. The
individual LDF documents are detailed briefly below. They fall into two
broad groups: the first being a range of five administrative and
supporting documents and the second being the five Development Plan
Documents (DPD's) themselves, which deal with the policy specifics.
(The recent Government White Paper on Planning (Summer 07) is already
seeking to modify elements of the LDF to speed up the process!).
To try and assimilate the basics I can do no better than direct you to the Planning Portal which has a very useful visual guide. This introduces Local Development Frameworks and explains the importance and role of each development document. It also explains the importance of community involvement in the creation of the documents - a crucial part of the new plan system.
(With
grateful thanks to the Planning Portal.)
The
best starting point is perhaps the Local Development Scheme which
sets out the timetable for production of the various documents. Most of
these LDF documents are available online through the individual
Council's websites which can be linked to from here:
LOCAL AUTHORITY A-Z
1. Statement of
Community Involvement - SCI (Required)
The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) shows how and when planning
authorities intend to consult local communities and other stakeholders
when preparing documents. This includes how they will consult on
planning applications and appeals.
A key outcome of the SCI will be to encourage consultation at the
earliest stages of each LDD development so that communities are given
the fullest opportunity to participate in the plan making process.
Every Statement of Community Involvement must provide open access to
information, actively encourage the contribution of ideas and
representations from the community and provide regular and timely
feedback on progress.
2. Annual Monitoring Report - AMR
(Required)
This is a report submitted to the government by the local planning
authority to assess the progress and the effectiveness of a Local
Development Framework.
The Annual Monitoring Report will assess whether:
- policies are achieving their objectives and that sustainable
development is being delivered?
- policies had the intended consequences?
- the assumptions and objectives behind the policies are still relevant?
- the targets set in the LDF are being achieved?
The Annual Monitoring Report will include a range of local and standard
(Core Output) indicators. It should also highlight if any adjustments to
the Local Development Scheme are required.
The Local Development Scheme is a public 'project plan' identifying which local development documents will be produced, in what order and when.
The Local Development Scheme acts as the starting point for the community and stakeholders to find out about the authority's planning policies concerning a particular place or issue, together with the status of those policies. It also outline the details of and timetable for the production of all the documents that make up the Local Development Framework.
All local authorities submitted their Local Development Schemes to the Secretary of State by the end of March 2005 and many have been updated since then.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) expand or add details to policies laid out in development plan documents, or a saved policy in an existing development plan. These may take the form of design guides, area development briefs, a master plan or issue-based documents.
These documents can use illustrations, text and practical examples to expand on how the authority's policies can be taken forward.
Local authorities must involve the community in the preparation of SPDs. They are also subject to a Sustainability Appraisal to ensure economic, environmental and social effects of the plan are in line with sustainable development targets.
The Local Development Framework may also contain Local Development Orders and Simplified Planning Zones.
A Local Development Order (LDO) is made by a planning authority in order to extend permitted development rights for certain forms of development, with regard to a relevant local development document.
A Simplified Planning Zone (SPZ) is an area in which a local planning authority wishes to stimulate development and encourage investment. It operates by granting a specified planning permission in the zone without the need for a formal application or the payment of planning fees.
DPDs are subject to a process of community involvement, consultation and independent examination. Once adopted, development control decisions must be made in accordance with the DPDs unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
DPDs are also subject to a Sustainability Appraisal to ensure economic, environmental and social effects of the plan are in line with sustainable development targets.
The Core Strategy sets out the long term spatial vision and objectives for delivery by the LDF. In particular the Core Strategy establishes the council's strategy for delivering strategic development needs, including housing, employment, leisure and retail requirements.
The Core Strategy must be kept up to date and must be in conformity with the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). Other LDF documents must also be in conformity with the core strategy and the RSS.
The allocation of land for specific uses must be set out in a development plan document called Site Specific Allocations, which is separate from the Core Strategy. This allows the local authority to update allocations in the light of changes to other local development documents or implementation on the ground.
Sites should be identified on a robust and credible assessment of the suitability, availability and accessibility of land for particular uses or a mixture of uses.
This is similar to the current Local Plan Proposals Map, being an Ordnance based map which shows all the allocated land within the plan area and identifies policy requirements and areas of constraint over physical areas of land; e.g the Green Belt, housing land allocations, conservation areas and many other policy issues etc.
An Area Action Plan (AAP) is a development plan document focused upon a specific location or part of the plan area which may be subject to conservation or significant change. This could include a major regeneration project or a growth area; e.g. The Thames Gateway
The AAP should focus on implementation - providing an important mechanism for ensuring development of an appropriate scale, mix and quality for key areas of opportunity, change or conservation. An AAP should outline protection for areas sensitive to change and aim to resolve conflicting objectives in areas subject to development pressures.
Area Action Plans are subject to independent examination.
These can include thematic documents concerned with housing, employment, retail development etc. and can also include generic development control policies.
END