Local Development Frameworks

Local Development Frameworks Key Aims

Streamline local planningPromote proactive management

approachEvidence based

• Flexibility• Strengthening community/stakeholder

involvement• Front loading• Sustainability appraisal• PPS12

The LDF “Folder”

The local context for Local Development Frameworks

Prime examples include:

• Community Strategies• Local Area Agreements• Local Transport Plans

Prime examples include:

• Community Strategies• Local Area Agreements• Local Transport Plans

• in addition to regional and national context (eg the Regional Spatial Strategy, Policy Planning Statements etc.)

• in addition to regional and national context (eg the Regional Spatial Strategy, Policy Planning Statements etc.)

Community Strategies

Community Strategy Creates a long-term, sustainable vision for an area and sets the agenda for priorities in the local area agreement ... includes an action plan which is to be monitored

Community Strategy Creates a long-term, sustainable vision for an area and sets the agenda for priorities in the local area agreement ... includes an action plan which is to be monitored

Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) : Brings together the views of the local private, voluntary and community sectors with the sustainable community strategy in an area, to turn the vision of a sustainable community into a reality.

Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) : Brings together the views of the local private, voluntary and community sectors with the sustainable community strategy in an area, to turn the vision of a sustainable community into a reality.

The Local Strategic Partnership in Devon

Voluntary sector • Devon Association of CVS• Devon Race Equality Council• Devon Wildlife TrustLocal government • Devon County council • District Councils: West Devon BC, East

Devon DC, Mid Devon DC, South Hams DC, Teignbridge DC, Torridge DC

• Devon Association of Parish CouncilsHealth bodies • Strategic Health Authority • Devon Partnership NHS Trust• East Devon PCT, Exeter PCT, South

Hams & West Devon PCT, • Health Forum• Community Health CouncilsBusiness sector • Devon & Cornwall Business Council• CBI Devon• Enterprise Plymouth Ltd• Exeter Business Forum

Education and Training • Connexions• Learning and Skills Council• Exeter UniversityGovernment bodies and

agencies • Environment Agency• Natural England • GOSW• SWRDA• Regional AssemblyLaw and order • Devon & Cornwall Police• Probation Service• Devon & Cornwall Magistrates

AssociationFaith Communities

Local Area Agreements

A contract between central and local government to deliver a balance of national priorities together with the priorities of local people

• …agreed between central government, the local authority and the Local Strategic Partnership

• LAAs simplify some central funding, help join up public services more effectively and allow greater flexibility for local solutions to local circumstances. 

• LAAs should…devolve decision making…and reduce bureaucracy.

Development Plan

Documents

Core Strategy• Sets out the general spatial vision and

objectives for delivery in the Local Development Framework.

‘It will be a test of your planning skills to set out a succinct picture of your authority’s individual vision for its area whilst avoiding the use of anodyne aspirational phrases that could apply anywhere in the Country.’

Planning Officers’ Society

• Plays a key part in the delivery of the Community Strategy by … setting out its spatial aspects … providing a long-term spatial vision

Core Strategy

- Must be kept up to date and all other DPDs must be in conformity with it and with the Regional Spatial Strategy

- Must relate to other strategies e.g. Local Transport Plan

- Deliver on RSS strategies e.g. housing, leisure, employment – these will be described in terms of broad locations but not site specific

- Illustrated via a Key Diagram (not OS based…)

- 10 year horizon

- May set criteria for identifying priorities for area action plans

Site-Specific policies and proposals

• Show how land has been allocated for different purposes

• Proposals for new development relating to the core strategy

• Separate DPD(s)

• Policies include e.g. broad design principles, access requirements

Proposals map

• OS base

• Where conflict between the map and a written policy, the written policy takes precedence

“other development Plans” e.g. Area Action Plans

‘… areas of change where site-specific policies

are needed … Equally they might address conservation areas or village plans.’

Should:• Deliver planned growth areas• Stimulate regeneration• Protect sensitive areas• Resolve conflicting pressures

Development Plan DocumentsArea Action Plans

• Action plans could be new & free standing or based on existing plans:- Area Master Plans- Neighbourhood/Village Plans- Design Statements- Site Development Briefs- Green Belt /area-based designations- Housing allocations - Specific proposals for major developments- Safeguarding land for transport etc

• Subject to annual review

Master planning

Cambourne, Cambridgeshire

3,000 homes

20Ha business park

Leisure, landscape, infrastructure

Simplified Planning Zones (previously Business Planning Zones)

A Simplified Planning Zone 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.

Local Development Orders

A Local Development Order is made by a planning authority in order to extend permitted rights for certain forms of development, with regard to a relevant local development document.

General principles for Development Plan Documents

• Subject to Sustainability Appraisal

• Adoption date and time horizon for specific policies/action plans

• Standard approach to dealing with conflicts between policies in different documents:   

“If…a policy contained in a development plan…conflicts with another policy in the development plan the conflict must be resolved in favour of the policy which is contained in the last document to be adopted…”

Joint LDDs

‘Joint working on local development documents is

particularly encouraged. Two or more local planning

authorities may prepare joint local development documents.’

PPS12• To be notified in LDS• Joint Committee – becomes LPA for the

specified area for that topic

Local Development Documents which are NOT Development Plan

Documents

Local Development Scheme

A project plan showing how the LDDs will be produced

Peak District National Park Authority - LDS 1st Revision: Jan. 2007 –

Dec. 2009

Local Development SchemeCarrick DC

• Statement of Community Involvement • Core Strategy (DPD)• Proposals Map (DPD)• Truro and Threemilestone Area Action

Plan (DPD)• Housing Allocations in Rural Areas

(DPD)• Falmouth and Penryn Area Action Plan

(DPD)• Perranporth Area Action Plan (DPD)• Generic Development Control Policies

(DPD)• Balancing Housing Markets (DPD)• The Rural Economy (DPD)• The Provision of Open Space, Sports

and Recreational Facilities (SPD)• Commuted Sums for Infrastructure

and Community Facilities (SPD)

• Waste Recycling (SPD)• Carrick Design Guide (SPD)• Planning Out Crime (SPD)• Truro Conservation Area Appraisal

(SPD)• St Agnes Conservation Area

Appraisal (SPD)• Chacewater Conservation area

Appraisal (SPD)• Devon Conservation Area Appraisal

(SPD)• Air Quality (SPD)• Shop fronts (SPD)• Trees and Development (SPD)• Fal Estuaries Initiative (SPD)• Renewable Energy (SPD)

Statement of Community Involvement

• The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) shows how and when planning authorities intend to consult local communities and other stakeholders when preparing documents.  

• A key outcome of the SCI will be to encourage 'front loading' - meaning that consultation begins at the earliest stages of each document's development so that communities are given the fullest opportunity to participate in plan making and to make a difference.

• 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.

Statement of Community Involvement

• Identify groups & techniques for formal/ informal involvement

• Race Relations Act 2000, Disability Discrimination Act 1995

• Subject to examination• List of groups who must be

consulted? (T&CP(LD) 2004 Regs)

SCI - Consultees• RPB/Mayor of London• RDA• County Council• Adjoining LPAs• Town/parish councils• EA• NE• English Heritage• Strategic Rail Authority • Telecommunication

companies• Strategic Health

Authority• Electricity/gas companies• Sewage/water

undertakers

• Voluntary bodies• Racial, ethnic, national

interests• Religious groups• People with disabilities• Business interests

Annual monitoring report

• To assess the progress and the effectiveness of a Local Development Framework.

• The Annual Monitoring Report will assess:- are policies achieving their objectives and is sustainable

development being delivered?- have policies had intended consequences?- are the assumptions and objectives behind policies still

relevant?

• Using a range of local and nationally set indicators – for example number of net additional dwellings (Regulation 48).

• It should also highlight if any adjustments to the Local Development Scheme are required.

Based on 1st April – 31st March Submitted to SoS by following DecemberRegional report submitted 2 months after local reports

• SEA Regulations 2004• Systematic & iterative• Economic & as social as well as

environmental criteria• SA of issues & options –

preferred options• Submission stage report• DPDs and SPDs

Sustainability Appraisal

LDDsBasic Milestones

Preparation

Public participation Preferred

optionsSubmission

Pre-examination meeting

Examination

Adoption

LDD Examination Criteria

Is it sound?

• Is this document planned for in the LDS?

• Is it in general conformity with RSS?

• Is information provided / referenced to support policies?

• Has a sustainability appraisal been carried out?

• Delivery mechanisms identified?

• Account of other relevant LDDs including neighbouring ones?

• Followed procedures agreed in the SCI?

Inspector’s Report & Adoption

• Changes• Two week fact-check• Binding on the authority• Timing on final report to be agreed with LPA

• Changes• Two week fact-check• Binding on the authority• Timing on final report to be agreed with LPA

• LPA produce adoption statement• Advertise & make available on-line• Circulate as requested• Send to GO & Inspectorate• Publish inspector’s report• Publish sustainability appraisal

• LPA produce adoption statement• Advertise & make available on-line• Circulate as requested• Send to GO & Inspectorate• Publish inspector’s report• Publish sustainability appraisal