LDF: the new planning system
Summary
There are major changes to the planning system on the way. The new system will eventually replace our current South Norfolk Local Plan. The new system aims to:
- Simplify the complex nature of plans;
- Speed up the process of creating plans making decisions on planning applications, and;
- Get the community more involved with the process.
This new system is called the Local Development Framework (LDF). Below you will find the various LDF documents under the ‘Downloads’ heading, including the current and previous annual monitoring reports. The ‘Further information’ section below gives an explanation of how everything fits together.
Joint Core Strategy
The Consultation on our Joint Core Strategy, which we are developing in partnership with Norwich and Broadland Councils, has now started. Find out how to get involved on our Joint Core Strategy page.
Downloads
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LDF in South Norfolk: how the documents fit together [PDF, 37 Kb]
South Norfolk LDF Annual Monitoring Report 2006-07 [PDF, 634 Kb]
South Norfolk LDF Annual Monitoring Report 2005-06 [PDF, 1148 Kb]
South Norfolk LDF Annual Monitoring Report 2004-05 [PDF, 265 Kb]
Further information
Summary of the main changes
Planning Policy Guidance Notes (the guidance on planning policy that comes from central Government) are being replaced by Planning Policy Statements - a more streamlined set of government planning policies. This will be supported by more best practice documents. Also there will be circulars, policy statements, good practice documents, advice and other material relating to such matters as housing, transport, town centres and the countryside.
Structure Plans (the regional policy framework that all local authorities like us create their Local Plans within) will be replaced with strategic planning policy provided by Regional Planning Bodies. In our area this means the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA).
We will still produce local planning policy but in a new and more flexible form, called Local Development Documents. Over time these will replace the current South Norfolk Local Plan, which was adopted in 2003.
The new planning framework
Regional level (East of England)
At the moment Regional Planning Guidance sets development strategies for individual regions. The Government continues to see the need for effective planning at the regional level, particularly for developing regionally based policies for strategic issues, such as new housing and transport.
Under the new Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act, structure plans at the County level aren’t required, which means we will no longer need the Norfolk County Council Structure Plan.
Strategic policy will instead be produced by Regional Planning Bodies, and they will be called Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs). These are more focused and specific to regional needs. Regional Spatial Strategies provide a framework for the development of plans and strategies at the local level. The content of these documents is expected to be much broader than the current Regional Planning Guidance. All Local Development Documents (see below) must conform with the Regional Spatial Strategy. In some cases there may also be policies for sub-regions. In the East of England, EERA has published its proposals as the East of England Plan.
Local level (South Norfolk)
The Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act introduces a new type of plan at the local level called Local Development Frameworks (LDFs), which all local planning authorities need to produce. They will be made up of a series of documents called Local Development Documents (LDDs) and other supporting guidance that together will provide the framework for delivering spatial planning for the area.
Local Development Frameworks must have clear links with the local Community Strategy to help deliver its policies relating to land use and development. In doing this, full account can be taken of the land-use consequences of other policies and programmes relating to education, health, waste, recycling and other environmental, economic and social objectives.
Local Development Frameworks
The Local Development Documents that comprise the Local Development Framework will include a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), which sets out how we intend to consult with the community of South Norfolk on the development of the framework.
As the Local Development Documents are intended to be the spatial expression of the Community Strategy, the SCI also identies the links between the Local Development Documents and the Community Strategy.
Development Plan Documents (DPDs)
Development Plan Documents will form the 'heart' of the new Local Development Framework. They will set out our policies relating to the development and use of land in our area. These documents will include:
- Core Policy Document – setting out our long-term vision and strategy to be applied in promoting and controlling development throughout South Norfolk. It will contain a set of primary policies for delivering the core strategy. Broad locations for development will be set out in a key diagram;
- Site specific policies (and allocations) - These will give particular guidance for topics and also set out in detail the allocations which need to follow from the Core Strategy;
- Area Action Plans – which may be relevant to particular areas of change that require more pro-active policy treatment. These could apply, for example, to town centres, areas requiring renewal and potentially, areas for conservation;
- Proposals Map (with inset maps, where necessary) – maps of the district showing the areas of change, or particular designations.
The first phase of consultation ran until mid-December 2005, and asked South Norfolk residents to:
- Help us shape the Core Policy Document (the big, long-term vision for development in South Norfolk);
- Put forward sites in the district which you thought would be appropriate for development.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)
Supplementary Planning Documents further define and implement the policies and strategies contained within the primary Development Plan Documents. Examples include development briefs, car parking standards, and design guides. Public consultation will be carried out to create these documents.
Development Plan Documents and the Statement of Community Involvement must be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination. We must also ensure that the documents conform with the Regional Spatial Strategy (see ‘Regional level’ above).
Local Development Scheme (LDS)
Under the new legislation, local planning authorities must outline every Local Development Document that they intend to produce over the next three years, in a Local Development Scheme. The Local Development Scheme sets out a rolling three-year timetable for production of the Local Development Documents, and it will be reviewed each year.
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
The Statement of Community Involvement outlines how we will consult with the people of South Norfolk and other stakeholders on major planning issues. This includes consultation on the documents that make up the LDF, and on dealing with planning applications. The SCI was adopted by Council on 21st February 2007.
Monitoring the Local Development Framework
We must also produce an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR). This assesses the implementation of the Local Development Scheme and the extent to which policies in Local Development Documents are being achieved. The 2005-06 AMR is now available, including an executive summary. To view this report and the previous 2004-05 AMR see the 'Downloads' box above.
Sustainability (development without using up natural resources)
Sustainable development is at the forefront of international land use planning. An essential part of the production process is that the emerging plan must be the subject of a Sustainability Appraisal, which will include a Strategic Environmental Assessment - a European Union requirement. While the approach for each of these is slightly different, both have the objective of assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of Local Development Documents.
Documents will be tested to make sure they reflect the objectives of sustainable development. In effect the two processes have been integrated to avoid unnecessary confusion and duplication. We will publish the findings of these appraisals.
Background studies
A number of background studies will inform preparation of the Local Development Framework. One of these is an Urban Capacity Study, which looks at the capacity to accommodate additional housing within existing settlement boundaries. The findings will feed into the LDF process and help with preparing the Core Policy document and Site Specific policies.
Further information
Further information about the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act and planning policy statements explaining the new requirements can be found on the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) website – follow the link under ‘external links’ below.
Newsletter
We have produced a LDF newsletter, which is available to download from our LDF newsletter page.
If you wish to be kept informed on what is happening, please contact the Planning Policy Team so that your details may be added to our database. See contact details below.
Related pages on this website
External links
East of England Regional Assembly
Our regional planning body, which publishes the East of England Plan.
Norfolk County Council Structure Plan
The current structure plan that guides development throughout Norfolk. Under the new planning system this structure plan will no longer be required.
Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Planning Policy Team |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | LDF@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| freephone: | 0808 168 3000 |
| telephone: | 01508 533805 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk Council South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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If you need information in large print, audio cassette, braille, translation (written or verbal) or signed interpretation, let us know when you contact us.
