SLDC plans positively for the future

10 August 2011

A draft policy published by the Government called the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) aims to simplify the planning system.  If it is approved, South Lakeland District Council like many other local authorities will be guided by the new policy when preparing local plans and helping communities to produce neighbourhood plans.  It will also guide the council when making decisions on planning applications, and Planning Inspectors when determining planning appeals. 

Key elements of the framework will require local planning authorities to plan positively for new and sustainable development, which meets the needs of their area. Authorities will also have a duty to cooperate with neighbouring areas.  The framework will continue to safeguard nationally protected areas including national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and sites of special scientific interest. 

The result of this framework is that if councils have not allocated enough sites or do not have an up to date planning framework, the assumption will be that planning permission for new development should be granted.

Councillor Peter Thornton, portfolio holder for Housing and Development, said: “We welcome the commitments of the framework that will see local communities play a far stronger role in planning their future, whilst acknowledging that the planning system has to better meet and deliver the needs of the area. The framework makes it very clear that councils without an up to date plan run a very real risk of unplanned and unrestrained development.  SLDC is well placed with its Local Development Framework and Core Strategy that has already been adopted.  The Land Allocations process is at an advanced stage, which means that we are in a strong position to best plan for development in South Lakeland and importantly, resist unsuitable development.  Local authorities that do not have up-to-date plans in place and do not have available and deliverable sites to meet their development needs will run the risk of losing planning appeals.”  

Unlike around 70% of local planning authorities, South Lakeland has an up to date and adopted Core Planning Strategy in place. Neighbouring authorities in Eden, the Lake District National Park and Lancaster also have strategies in place and all three are complementary and support each other.

South Lakeland is now working on a Land Allocations document to deliver enough sites for new housing in the district over the next ten years. The current consultation on alternative sites, the time span of the document and the approach to small villages and hamlets is under way and will end on Friday 9 September.