Suffolk Coastal is
drawing up a new Local Development Framework (LDF) which will
be a ‘route map’ for the development of our community over to
2025, and beyond.
The Council has been informally consulting about the new
framework for over two years and in February 2007 we sought views
on the
Core Strategy Issues and Options document in
the first major stage of the public consultation process.
From February to April this year we consulted on our
Further Issues & Options document, which
looks at two areas where large scale, strategic, levels of
housing growth is proposed - Felixstowe with Walton and Trimley
villages and East of Ipswich. You can
view our responses to the comments received
during the 10 week public consultation and find out the
recommendations of the Local Development Framework Task Group
meetings, set up to consider the options, which were considered
by a
special meeting of the Council's Cabinet
held in Kesgrave on 21 October.
Follow this link to find out
how the new framework will effect all our
futures.
The new planning policy system
Changes to planning policy system involve the replacement of
Local Plans and Supplementary Planning Guidance with Local
Development Frameworks. The legislation governing the
changes are
the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act, 2004
and the
Town & Country Planning (Local Development)
(England) Regulations 2004.
The new planning system has three tiers:
The Local Development Framework
The Local Development Framework is a ‘folder’ which
will hold a number of 'documents'. These will contain the policies,
proposals and actions that affect the future of the
district. Also included is
the Local Development Scheme, which sets out the
timetable for producing each document; the
Statement of Community Involvement, which
explains how the community and stakeholders will be involved
in the preparation of the Local Development Framework and the
Annual Monitoring Report, which assesses how
effective the policies and proposals of the Local Development
Framework have been.
There are basically two types of document which are detailed below.
The timetable for the preparation of each document can be found in
the Local Development Scheme.
Development Plan Documents
-
Core Strategy & Development Control
Policies
The strategic document setting out the vision, objectives and
spatial strategy of the district as well as containing a suite of
policies to be used in the determination of planning
applications.
-
Site Specific Allocations &
Policies
A document containing policies that apply to specific sites,
locations or areas as opposed to being district wide.
- Felixstowe regeneration area action plan
A document containing a
planning framework for the future development and
regeneration of the town centre, employment area and the
resort of Felixstowe.
- Saxmundham and Leiston town centres area action
plan
A document containing planning frameworks for the future
development and regeneration of the towns as retail and employment
centres. Includes proposals for new retail, new housing, community
facilities and environmental enhancement.
- Proposals Map
A map giving geographical expression to adopted policies. To be
revised as each new development plan document is adopted.
Supplementary Planning Documents
These elaborate upon the policies and proposals in Local
Development Documents without having the same status. Three are
scheduled to be prepared as set out in the
Local Development Scheme:
- Affordable housing
Sets out further
detail of policies in the core strategy.
- Planning briefs for allocated sites
Sets
out frameworks for the layout, design, and phasing of sites
allocated in the Local Development Documents.
- Redundant buildings
Sets out further detail of policies on the re-use of redundant and
under-used buildings in the countryside.
Sustainability Appraisal
Local Development Frameworks place a greater emphasis on the
environment and sustainable development. As a result, all
Local Development Documents will be subject to
a Sustainability Appraisal to assess their
predicted impact upon social, environmental and economic
issues.
Consultation
The new planning system requires that local authorities
undertake a series of consultation stages as each Local Development
Framework document progresses. The methods by which the Council
will consult with the community is contained in the
Statement of Community Involvement and the
timetable for the stages of consultation for each Local Development
Framework document is set out in the Local Development Scheme.
Consultation on each Development Plan Document is subject to at
least three major stages as shown below:
- Early document production.
-
Stage 1 - Issues & Options
consultation (Regulation 25).
- Stage 2 - Preferred Options consultation
(Regulation 26).
- Stage 3 - Formal Submission consultation
(Regulation 28).
- Examination in Public (Regulation 34).
- Formal adoption of Development Plan Document
(Regulation 36).
The Regulation number in brackets indicates the section of
the
Town & Country Planning (Local Development)
(England) Regulations 2004 that applies. The timetable for
the preparation of each document can be found in the
Local Development Scheme.
What happens in the mean time?
Until their replacement with new 'documents' the
current Local Plan will contain 'saved policies'
that will be used for the purposes of development control.
Supplementary Planning Guidance, adopted by the Council and
currently in operation, will continue to be used as material
considerations in the determination of planning applications.
Parish plans
Parish plans enable local communities to work together
discussing and addressing issues which are of particular importance
to that community. The plans can be submitted to the Council to
inform the production of the Local Development Framework where
practical and possible. This represents a ‘bottom up’ approach to
the development plan making process.
Suffolk
ACRE is the principle organisation promoting and supporting
parishes across Suffolk to produce their parish plans.
Tell us what you think
This is the first Local Development Framework produced by
Suffolk Coastal and we are following the guidance and regulations
issued by the Government in order to draw it up and consult with
the public. We would like your views about how we have done so far
and any comments or suggestions you have on how we could do it
better. Please email us at
development.policy@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or write to:
Head of Planning Services,
Suffolk Coastal District Council,
Melton Hill,
Woodbridge,
Suffolk IP12 1AU.