What is the Local Development Framework?
Overview of the Local Development Framework
The Local Development Framework (LDF) is the name for the collection of documents that together set out the planning policies which will shape and guide development within the area.
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 replaced the previous system of a single comprehensive Local Plan with a revised system where a portfolio of different documents are prepared.
The Local Development Framework and Regional Spatial Strategy (South East Plan) will gradually replace the existing system of the Local Plan, Structure Plan and Regional Planning Guidance.
| Update on the Status of Regional Spatial Strategies In July 2010, the new Government placed an order in Parliament to revoke Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) with immediate effect. In August 2010, the developer CALA Homes (South) Ltd issued a legal challenge on the grounds that primary legislation was required and the revocation was unlawful. The High Court judgement was found in favour of CALA Homes. Following this, the government published a letter to Chief Planners re-iterating that the intention to abolish RSSs should be regarded as a material consideration in planning decisions. In May 2010, a judicial review appeal by CALA, which claimed that the Government's intention to revoke RSSs could never be a lawful consideration in decisions on planning applications, was rejected at the Court of Appeal. They concluded that the Government's intention to abolish Regional Strategies through primary legislation could be a material planning consideration in making development control decisions, but not in plan-making decisions. |
The LDF goes beyond traditional 'Land-use Planning' to a new era of 'Spatial Planning' which is interested in delivering an areas wider social, economic and environmental aims. It has strong links to other wider policies and programmes helping to deliver their aims too. It will help to mediate the conflicting demands placed on an areas limited resources and intends to shape the area for the good of the many.
Page owner: Anna Ludford. Last updated: 02/02/2012 16:43