Local Development Framework

The Government has decided on a radical reform of the planning system. Parliament has passed new planning legislation which will change the way development plans are drawn up. The new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 commenced in September 2004 introducing a new scheme of Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). The Local Development Framework will replace existing Local Plans and Unitary Development Plans and along with the regional spatial strategy will form the framework for planning in local authority areas.

The Local Development Framework will eventually replace the Chester District Local Plan. The Local Plan is 'saved' until the policies it contains can be replaced.

The Local Development Framework will comprise the following parts:

Local Development Scheme (LDS) the programme and timetable for the production of the Local Development Framework

 

Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) document which sets out how Chester City Council intends to involve the local community in both the formation of the future Local Development Frameworks and in planning applications

 

Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) is a Local Development Document that the Council is required to produce to assess the effectiveness of local development documents and to measure changes that have taken place. Each report covers the period 1 April to 31 March and is submitted to the Secretarty of State in December, following approval by the Council's Executive.

 

Development Plan Documents (DPD) will form Chester District's Development Plan and will be the basis upon which all planning decisions are made. They include the core strategy, site specific allocations of land, adopted proposals map, area action plans. Chester City Council's Local Development Scheme currently proposes the following DPDs:

• Core Strategy
• Development Control Policies DPD
• Chester Inner Urban Area Action Plan
• West Chester Area Action Plan
• Rural Area/Key Villages Development Plan

However, as explained below, in light of the creation of the new Cheshire West and Chester Council in April 2009 we are currently preparing a new Local Development Scheme and looking at what Development Plan Documents we need to produce for the new Unitary area.

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) are non-statutory documents used to supplement policies and strategies set out in the Development Plan Documents

 

Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA) - the policies and proposals contained in the LDF must be appraised to ensure that they contribute to the aims of Sustainable Development. The SA and SEA documents will set out the results from this appraisal.

Local Development Framework Diagram (56kb)

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

The Council is required to undertake a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to provide evidence for the preparation of new planning policies and to guide the determination of planning applications.

LDF Progress to Date and Local Government Reorganisation

We are currently in the early stages of developing the Council's Local Development Framework. A newsletter has been prepared to outline progress to date and the next steps, particularly in view of Local Government Reorganisation in Cheshire.