Planners and other professional practitioners involved in the planning process will be aware that, following the introduction of the Planning and Compulsory Act 2004, old style development plans are being replaced by a new system of Local Development Frameworks. The Planning Inspectorate has a key role in the new plan making process and is working to ensure it plays a full part in the successful introduction of Local Development Frameworks (LDFs).
The background to the new approach is set out in Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Development Frameworks, produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Part II of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 provides a new development plan system based on Regional Spatial Strategies (which replace Structure Plans) and Local Development Frameworks (which replace Local Plans and Unitary Development Plans) in England . The principles underpinning the new approach are that the planning system needs to be speeded up and should embrace the concept of real and meaningful community involvement. Local Development Frameworks seek to streamline the local planning process and promote a positive approach to managing development.
Key elements of the new system are:
- Flexibility, to enable local planning authorities to respond to changing circumstances more quickly than development plans under the old system;
- Strengthening community and stakeholder involvement, by involvement from the outset of plan preparation;
- Front loading i.e. seeking consensus on essential issues early in the process;
- The use of sustainability appraisal in the preparation of local development documents to ensure they are prepared with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development ;
- Efficient programme management in preparation of local development documents; and
- Soundness, both in plan content and the process by which plans are produced.
Local planning authorities must prepare a Local Development Framework which will comprise a folder of Local Development Documents (LDDs) for delivering the spatial strategy for the area (as opposed to the old single plan covering the whole of the authority’s area). LDDs will comprise Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents, which expand polices set out in development plan documents or provide additional detail. The Local Development Framework will also include a Statement of Community Involvement, the Local Development Scheme (which sets out the programme for the production of LDDs) and the Annual Monitoring Report.
Within the Local Planning Authority’s Local Development Framework, Development Plan Documents and Statements of Community Involvement must be ‘sound’ (section 20 of the 2004 Act) both in terms of their content and the process by which they are produced. They must also be founded on a robust and credible evidence base. PPS12: Local Development Frameworks sets out 9 tests of soundness for examining Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Statements of Community Involvement (SCIs) respectively. It states that the presumption will be that the DPD/SCI is sound unless it is shown to be otherwise as a result of evidence considered at the examination.
Visit Communities Website for Frequently Asked Questions on the LDF system now published by DCLG.
Visit The Planning Portal Website for a visual guide to Local Development Frameworks on the Planning Portal Site.
Visit the Planning Inspectorate Website for an overview of the Development Plan System from issue 1 of our Newsletter.
Assessing the Soundness Of Development Plan Documents and Statements Of Community Involvement
The Planning Inspectorate issued new guidance on 20 December 2005 for local authorities, planning agents and other interested parties including developers, interested organisations and local residents on the approach to be taken to public examinations of Development Plan Documents and Statements of Community Involvement. For more information on assessing soundness.
Read the article on Statements of Community Involvement from issue 1 of our newsletter.
Read the list of the Statements of Community Involvement that have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and have been adopted by the Local Planning Authorities.
Development Plans
For information on the following topics see the Planning Inspectorate web site:
- Development Plan Inquiry Practice
- Current Development Plan Inquiries
- Current Structure Plans - Examinations in public
- Current Regional Planning Guidance
- Development Plan Document Examinations - Programme Officer Guidance Notes
- Local Plan and Unitary Development Plan Inquiries - Programme Officer Guidance Notes
Source: Web site of the Planning Inspectorate - Crown © 2004