The New Development Planning System
Under the Government's new development planning system, Local Plans and Structure Plans are to be replaced by Local Development Frameworks (LDF) and Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS).
What is a Regional Spatial Strategy?
RSSs will replace Regional Planning Guidance Notes and County Structure Plans. They are a key link between national and local policy and together with LDFs will form the statutory development plan. Find out more about the |RSS for the South East.
What is a Local Development Framework?
LDFs must be in general conformity with the relevant RSS which in turn must 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 DPDs 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 LDFs.
The |Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and associated |regulations set the legislative framework for the new 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 DPDs and SPDs. 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.
