The Development Planning System
A number of key changes have been made to the development planning system by the new Government including changes to national Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) relating to the classification of garden land and housing densities and the revocation of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS). As a result, RSS's no longer form part of the development plan. Local Development Frameworks (LDF) are still required to be delivered in order to reflect local people's aspirations and decisions on important issues such as climate change, housing and economic development. LDF's must be prepared in accordance with national planning policy. Further changes are expected over the coming months. The |Communities and Local Government website provides up-to-date information on these emerging changes.
Revocation of Regional Spatial Strategies
On the 6 July 2010 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG) announced the revocation of RSS's. As a result, RSS's no longer form part of the development plan. |Find out more about the revocation of RSS.
National Planning Policy Guidance
LDF's must be in accordance with national planning policy.
Local Development Frameworks
Following RSS abolition, there is no longer a requirement for LDF's to be in general conformity with regional policy. However, LDF's must continue to reflect |national planning guidance.
You can think of a LDF as a portfolio of documents comprising three different types of Local Development Document (LDD).
- Development Plan Documents (DPD) - this must include a Core Strategy which is the principal DPD. Other types of DPD can be prepared as appropriate, examples include Site Allocation DPD's and Area Action Plans.
- Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) - these add detail to policies within DPDs and can be prepared as appropriate.
- Supporting Documents - comprising Local Development Scheme, Annual Monitoring Report, Statement of Community Involvement.
At the heart of the LDF is the Core Strategy DPD, which, together with the RSS, set out a long-term vision and spatial strategy for a local authority area.
The LDF provides the flexibility to allow the strategy, policies and proposals to evolve in relation to needs, and to update parts of the strategy as required. Community involvement throughout is a key feature of the new system. You can use the links below to find out more about LDF's.
The |Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and associated |regulations currently set the legislative framework for the development planning system. |Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Development Frameworks is national guidance.
Find out about the |Elmbridge LDF.
What is Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment?
Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA) is required for all DPD's and SPD's. The achievement of sustainable development is central to national planning policy and as a result Government has introduced the process of SA as a method to test the sustainability of documents produced for the Local Development Framework. SA is mandatory under Section 39(2) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Local authorities are also required to conduct an environmental assessment (SEA) in accordance with the requirements of European Directive 2001/42/EC (the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive). Although the requirements for carrying out SA and SEA differ, both are satisfied through the SA process.
SA/SEA ensures that social, environmental and economic concerns are addressed and fully integrated into the production of a document and that a balance of these issues is achieved as far as possible. By undertaking a SA/SEA it is possible to look at a range of objectives and policies contained within various documents and examine how they contribute towards sustainable development by looking at their social, environmental and economic effects. By identifying potential issues at an early stage it is then possible to amend the policies/plans to ensure that they are as sustainable as possible.
More information is provided in the |Sustainability Appraisal Information Leaflet.
Find out more about |SA/SEA for the Elmbridge LDF.
