Local Development
Frameworks
LDFs prepared by local
planning authorities
consist of a portfolio of
Local Development Documents (LDDs) to manage how change takes place in the
area. These can either be Development Plan Documents (DPDs) or
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
A visual guide to LDFs can
be viewed at
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115311947782.html
We have a role in guiding
and scrutinising the preparation of LDFs.
It is our responsibility
to make sure development plans are consistent with national policy and that
they are prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local
Development) (England) Regulations 2004, as ammended. If we
consider a development plan to be unsatisfactory in its interpretation of
national planning guidance, we would make representations at the
Examination in Public but beforehand we try to advise local planning
authorities through the process to ensure that the development plan is
found to be sound. Formal representations are also made once documents are
submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. Ultimately, the
Secretary of State has powers to direct a local planning authority not to
adopt an LDD.
By having
close working relationships with local planning authorities and
commenting on emerging development plan documents, GOWM seeks to highlight
any potential weaknesses in relation to the tests of soundness, and to
encourage good practice.
We also scrutinise
Local Development Schemes, which inform about a local planning
authority’s programmes for the preparation and production of LDF
documents, namely: Local Development Documents (LDD) incorporating
Development Plan Documents (DPD) and Supplementary Planning Documents
(SPD). Statements of Community Involvement (SCI).
Transitional
Arrangements
It will take time for local planning authorities to prepare their LDFs,
which will replace “old style development plans”. During the
transition, development plans will include the following documents:
-
Saved policies from
Structure plans - prepared by the structure planning authorities
(county councils, unitary authorities and the Region's national park
authority, Peak District National Park Authority) setting out key
strategic policies for the area(s) as a framework for local
planning
-
Local plans adopted
after commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (28
September 2004) or for local plans prepared before that date, saved
policies - prepared by local planning authorities, including
national park authorities, setting out more detailed policies to guide
development in their areas, including proposals for specific
sites
-
Minerals and Waste
local plans or saved policies - prepared by county, joint and national
park authorities, setting out the land use policies for managing
minerals and waste in their areas.
Adopted structure and
local plans retained development plans status and automatically become
'saved' policies for a period of three years from commencement of the
Planning and Compensation Act 2004 (i.e. from 28 September 2004). For plans
in preparation at that date, the three-year period started from the
adoption of the relevant plan.
If policies have not been
replaced in new Development Plan Documents and are to be saved beyond the
three years, local planning authorities need the approval of the Secretary
of State (by means of a direction setting out which policies have been
saved). A list of saved policies and current “old style development
plans” can be found on the relevant local planning authority’s
websites.
GOWM Responses to
Local Development Documents
The Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) has a key role in
guiding local planning authorities within the West Midlands in the
production of sound Development Plans.
From 27 June 2008 amended regulations were brought into effect. Where GOWM
has commented, responses are made under new Regulation 25 (Public
Participation), Regulation 27 (Publication), and Regulation 28
(submission).
Responses made by the Government Office for the West Midlands on
Development Plan Documents which are being prepared by local authorities
within the region can be found by selecting the appropriate local
authority from the list of local authorities shown in the left
hand navigation box.
See also on our website
