Planning policy

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 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.

Supplementary 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.

Sustainable Construction Checklist Supplementary Planning Document

This checklist describes the key principles of sustainable design and construction the Council expects all architects and contractors to follow. This has been recently amended so that schemes for one or more residential units or for commercial developments of 100sqm or more should comply with the Sustainable Construction Checklist, including the requirement to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 (for new homes), Ecohomes "excellent" (for conversions) or BREEAM "excellent" (for other types of development) in accordance with policy CP1 of the adopted Core Strategy April 2009.