The role of planning policy is to provide a framework of policies by which key land-use planning decisions can be made. Planning policy is important in three ways:-
- it helps shape the future of the District (where development is going to go, how much is to be provided, etc).
- it helps achieve key objectives of the Council (such as seeking to provide more affordable homes), and
- it helps inform the process of determining planning applications.
Within the District, planning policy is delivered in the following ways:-
- The Local Plan. This is the key statutory planning document setting the planning policy framework of the district to 2011.
- Supplementary planning guidance (SPG). This is more informal non-statutory guidance that is prepared to provide detailed policy on a particular issue or site. Much SPG takes the form of development briefs on particular sites.
In September 2004 the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act came into effect. This will see the eventual replacement of the local plan with a series of Local Development Documents (LDDs) bound together in a Local Development Framework. The Act also requires the council to prepare a Local Development Scheme which will set out its proposals for preparing further LDDs over the next three years.
To support its planning policy work the Council also undertakes land use monitoring work and provides information on this work.
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