The Local Plan

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published 27 March 2012 has introduced changes to national policy and guidance replacing all previous Planning Policy Guidance and Planning Policy Statements. The NPPF refers to the collection of documents that make up the statutory plan for a Local Planning Authority as the ‘Local Plan’ which is broadly synonymous with the Local Development Framework.

What is in the Local Plan?

There are a number of documents in the Local Plan. Read the completed documents by clicking the hyperlink:

Explains what, how, why and when

• Statement of Community Involvement - Sets out the Council's approach to engaging the community in planning decisions, adopted September 2006, addendum 2008.
• Local Development Scheme - Sets out the timetable for preparing documents to be included in the Local Plan (currently know as the Local Development Framework).
• Monitoring Report - Reviews progress made on preparing Local Plan documents and assesses the effectiveness.

Covers policies, plans, maps and guidance

Development Plan Documents (DPD)

• Core Strategy - The Core Strategy provides the strategic planning framework for the District, outside the National Parks.  It sets out the long-term spatial vision and the strategic objectives quantity and distribution of development and policies to deliver the vision.
• Land Allocations -  Will identify or ‘allocate’ land within the District, outside the National Parks, for specific types of development such as housing and employment, currently under examination. 
• Development Management Policies - Will set out the criteria against which planning applications will be considered including design and environmental standards.
• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) - Will be a new charge on development which will be used to support critical infrastructure to deliver the Core Strategy.   Under changes being consulted upon, a proportion of CIL receipts would go directly to Parish and Town Councils to fund local community infrastructure projects. 
• Gypsies & Travellers - Will draw on the findings of an updated Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment to set out needs for gypsy and traveller sites and the Council’s strategy for meeting those needs.
• Arnside& Silverdale AONB - The Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of national landscape importance.  SLDC and Lancaster City Council are considering working on a joint Local Plan for the AONB which will be prepared in close consultation with local communities. 
• Kendal Canal Head - Will provide a regeneration framework for modern employment, housing, leisure and supporting commercial development, better links with the town centre and, in the longer term, enabling the restoration of the Lancaster Canal. 
• Neighbourhood Plans - The Localism Act (2011) introduced reforms to planning system and enables communities to create Neighbourhood Plans for their area with the support of the Council. Heversham and Hincaster Parishes are currently the only Parishes which have applied to prepare a neighbourhood plan.
• 'saved' Local Plan - There are also some saved policies from the adopted 1997 Local Plan, which will remain part of the Council’s planning policies until replaced.  Some have been superseded by Core Strategy policies and some will be wholly or partially superseded by Land Allocations policies. 

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD's)

• Wind Energy - Has already been prepared jointly with other Cumbrian Authorities and adopted.  
• Development Briefs - Will give guidance on development on specific sites. They show which policies of the Local Plan apply to each specific site as well as detailed requirements on siting, access, design and landscaping.  .