An Introduction to The New Planning System

Working with local communities and stakeholders, local Councils are currently preparing plans that meet not only the physical but also the social and economic needs of the community in the coming years.
One important factor of the scheme affecting all of us is the opportunity for the local community to fully engage in the preparation of the Local Development Framework.
We hope that members of our rural communities will play an active part in shaping these plans, some may already have been involved, as each local Council is at a different stage in preparation of their plan

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced a new 'two-tiered' plan system, comprised of:
• Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) - prepared by the regional planning bodies (or in London the spatial development strategy prepared by the Mayor of London). These set out a broad spatial planning strategy for how a region should look in 15 to 20 years time and possibly longer.
• Local Development Frameworks (LDF) - a folder of local development documents prepared by district councils, unitary authorities or national park authorities that outline the spatial planning strategy for the local area.
The Local Development Framework, together with the Regional Spatial Strategy, will determine how the planning system will help to shape our communities.

The aim of the new system is to simplify the planning system and make it more transparent. There are several opportunities for people to make their views known during the preparation process and a crucial role for community involvement in the plan-making process - one of the most important elements of the new system.

Local Councils have also had to prepare the following 3 documents that help to monitor the setup of each local scheme.
The Local Development Scheme (LDS) is the starting point for the community and stakeholders to find out about the authority's planning policies in respect to a particular place or issue, and the current status of those policies. It also outlines the details of and timetable for the production of all documents that make up the Local Development Framework over a three-year period. It identifies which local development documents will be produced, in what order and when.
All local authorities submitted their Local Development Schemes to the Secretary of State by the end of March 2005 although I understand that many of the authorities have had to revise their schemes as the new schemes are taking longer to prepare than anticipated.
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.
Annual Monitoring Report- A report submitted to the government by a local planning authority to assess the progress and the effectiveness of a Local Development Framework.
It will assess:
• if policies are achieving their objectives and if sustainable development is being delivered?
• have policies had intended consequences?
• if the assumptions and objectives behind policies are still relevant?
• if the targets set in the LDF are being achieved?
The Local Development Framework (LDF) is made up of a series of documents it is often likened to a file full of separate documents that have been created gradually and can be updated at regular intervals – unlike the old system where one huge document took ages to prepare and was then in place for a considerable time.
A Local Development Framework must include:-
The Core Strategy which plays a key part in the delivery of the council's community strategy by setting out its spatial aspects and providing a long-term spatial vision. The core strategy should express those parts of the community strategy that relate to the development and use of land and outline the council's strategy for delivering strategic development needs, including housing, leisure and retail.
It must be kept up to date and all other development plan documents must be in conformity with it and the Regional Spatial Strategy.
Site Specific Allocations - the allocation of land for specific uses must be set out in a development plan document called Site Specific Allocations, which is separate from the Core Strategy.
This allows the local authority to update allocations in the light of changes to other local development documents or implementation on the ground.
Sites should be identified on a robust and credible assessment of the suitability, availability and accessibility of land for particular uses or a mixture of uses.
Adopted Proposals Map should illustrate all site-specific policies in all the adopted development plan documents in map form. It should also identify areas of protection such as nationally protected landscape and local nature conservation areas, green belt land and conservation areas.
Separate inset maps may be used to show policies for part of the authority's area, such as the policies for Area Action Plans. The Adopted Proposals Map must be revised as each new development plan document is adopted and should reflect the up-to-date spatial plan for the area.
The LDF may also contain additional optional development documents such as Area Action Plans. Supplementary Planning Documents, Local Development Orders and Simplified Planning Zones
Area Action Plans (optional documents) are focused upon a specific location or an area subject to conservation or significant change. Important for ensuring development of an appropriate scale, mix and quality for key areas of opportunity, change or conservation.
An AAP should outline protection for areas sensitive to change and aim to resolve conflicting objectives in areas subject to development pressures.
Other Development Plan Documents (Optional) can include thematic documents concerned with housing, employment, retail development etc.
They can also include generic development control policies.
Supplementary Planning Documents (Optional) expand or add details to policies laid out in development plan documents, or a saved policy in an existing development plan. These may take the form of design guides, area development briefs, a master plan or issue-based documents.
These documents can use illustrations, text and practical examples to expand on how the authority's policies can be taken forward.
Local authorities must involve the community in the preparation of SPDs. They are also subject to a Sustainability Appraisal to ensure economic, environmental and social effects of the plan are in line with sustainable development targets.
Local Development Orders (Optional) - 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.
A Simplified Planning Zone (Optional) 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.
These are classed as Development Plan Documents DPDs and outline the key development goals of the Local Development Framework.
All DPDs are subject to rigorous procedures of community involvement, consultation and independent examination. Once adopted, development control decisions must be made in accordance with the DPDs unless material considerations indicate otherwise. DPDs are also subject to a Sustainability Appraisal to ensure economic, environmental and social effects of the plan are in line with sustainable development targets.
This is taking 3 years to prepare (at least) What happens in the interim?
Government policy allowed authorities to 'save' their plans for 3 years from September 2004 or until policies are replaced by Development Plan Documents. After this 3 year period, if necessary, Councils may apply to extend the saved period. This includes The Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Structure Plan (1996-2016) and each District Councils local plan.
How does all this affect our rural areas?
Planning shapes the places where people live and work - so it is right that people should be able to take an active part in the process.

Parish Councillors and individuals must be aware of the preparation of these new documents and first and foremost should be on the look out for them. It may be difficult as the consultation period may fall between meetings. They should respond to them in the best way possible to ensure that they manage the changes that may need to take place in their areas; it is usually too late by the time the planning application site notice is displayed to make any major alterations. Parishes that have prepared a Parish Plan may be in a good position to enable them to respond.
Village Design Statements that were adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance and supplemented Local Plan policies in the old system cannot automatically become Supplementary Planning Documents. These SPGs will however maintain their status but as ‘important considerations’ in determining planning applications as long as the old local plan is held over.

Getting involved
If you want to help to manage the way your local area changes, you should contact your local planning authority to find out how you can get involved.
Up to date information on each councils Local Development Framework should be available on the internet, here are some useful addresses:-
Charnwood http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/environment/2502.html
Harborough http://www.harborough.gov.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?ID=2142
Hinckley & Bosworth http://www.hinckleybosworth.gov.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?IDType=Page&ID=13162
North West Leicestershire http://www.nwleicestershire.gov.uk/development_planning/
Blaby http://www.blaby.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/planning/local-plan/
Melton http://www.meltononline.co.uk/pp/goldplus/viewGold.asp?ID=775

For more information contact your local planning authority or dcook@ruralcc.org.uk