Planning, building and the environment

Local Development Frameworks

Each local planning authority is preparing a Local Development Framework (LDF). This is a folder of documents that sets out how your local area may change over the next few years.

The new planning system of Local Development Frameworks has been designed to streamline the local planning process and promote a proactive, positive approach to managing development. The key aims of the new system are:

  • Flexibility
  • Strengthening community and stakeholder involvement in the development of local communities
  • Front loading of key decisions in the preparation of plans
  • Sustainability appraisal
  • Programme management
  • Soundness - testing the plan against simple criteria to show it is fit for purpose

If these steps are all implemented to appropriate standards then the new system of local development frameworks will speed up the plan making process and be more transparent to members of the public.

Further information is contained in Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning (PPS12) available below.

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