Planning guidance and policies

Unitary Development Plan

The Unitary Development Plan sets out the Council’s proposals for the development and other use of land including measures for the improvement of the physical environment for the next 10 years or so. It has strategic and local policies, and in Chapter 12 strategies and proposals for specific areas. More about the Unitary Development Plan.

Local Development Framework

In 2004 the Government introduced a new plan making system under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Work is underway on the Local Development Framework (LDF) which will replace the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) with a "folder" of documents. A summary of the changes to policy making brought in by the new planning system is provided. More about the Local Development Framework.

Suppementary Planning Guidance

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) is non-statutory guidance which supplements Unitary Development Plan (UDP) policies. Only the policies in the UDP have the special status afforded by S54a of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, in deciding planning applications.

However, the Government advises that SPG may be taken into account as a material consideration, the weight given to it increases if the SPG is prepared in consultation with the public and has been the subject of a Council resolution. More about Supplementary Guidance.