POS Position Statement on Local Development Frameworks

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Position Statement

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS

What is the wider role of spatial planning?

With the modernisation of the statutory planning system, the 3 tier system of development plans set up in 1970 has been replaced by a two tier system of spatial plans.    These extend beyond the traditional realm of land use planning and include the spatial dimension of all plans of local authorities and their partners.    At the District/Unitary level, these plans, under the generic title of the Local Development Framework (LDF), will need to be much more central to the Council’s decision making machinery than the old development plans and will need to integrate with the Local Strategic Partnership’s Sustainable Community Strategy.    The involvement of local communities in developing LDFs will be crucial, and the aim is to “front-load” this involvement early in the process, so that difficult issues and the Council’s response to them can be identified at initial stage, with a view to move towards a resolution of these issues by the time the LDF is deposited.    The final decision on the plans which make up the LDF will be taken by a Planning Inspector, rather than the local authority, following an examination rather than a Public Inquiry.

All LDFs will be made up of a number of Development Plans, and a benefit of the new system is that they can be developed at different times.    However, the first plan will always need to be the Core Strategy which will set the context for those development plans which follow.    As with any new system, early experience has shown that some adjustment will be needed to address the early problems which have been identified.    Possible solutions are also shown below:

Where can I find out more?

The Planning Officers Society (POS) and the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) have produced substantial guidance to help authorities overcome these and other problems.