Simple Guide to Havant's Local Development Framework
(
LDF
)
What is a Local Development Framework?
The aim of the planning system is to maintain and improve our
society through planned development and conservation. This helps to
provide an attractive environment in which to live, work and play.
Planning ensures buildings and uses are appropriately located and
that they are well designed. This is known as 'sustainable'
planning.
The Local Development Framework (
LDF
) is the term used
to describe the development plans affecting a local area. It is
often referred to as The Local
Plan. The plans affecting the borough are being
produced by the council in consultation with the community and
other key stakeholders, such as healthcare providers and
businesses.
The
LDF
is
important as it sets out how our borough will look and feel in the
future. The plans will influence planning applications and they
will also ensure that there is space for the new housing
and employment that we must provide.
The planning system has to balance different views and often
make difficult decisions but an integral part to formulating a
LDF
is community
involvement and consultation, this is reiterated through the
introduction of the Localism Actl 2011. The Act aims to give
power back to local communiteies and authorities through the
introduction of 'Neighbourhood Planning'.
Local Development Framework: A portfolio of documents
The LDF is a portfolio containing a series of
planning documents that guide the development of the local area.
This portfolio consists of a series of Development Plan Documents
(DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
DPDs guide the development of the local area.
Planning decisions are made in accordance with these documents
which are subject to examination by an independent inspector. SPD’s
supplement the policies outlined within DPD’s.
Additional monitoring reports and a large number of evidence
base documents will also be produced in the LDF.
Havant Borough Council's LDF is
expected to consist of the documents illustrated below.
Core Strategy
(adopted March 2011)
The Core Strategy is the principal document and it covers
the period until 2026. It includes an overall vision of how the
area and the places within it should develop. It also sets
objectives to ensure the overall vision is delivered. Some sites of
significant importance are identified in the Core
Strategy, these are called 'strategic sites'.
The policies that are used in determining planning applications,
Development Management Policies, are also set within this
document.
Development Delivery (Allocations) Plan (also known as
the Allocations Plan)
This plan will detail the allocation of land for development or
land allocated for other types of uses. Strategic sites will not be
identified in this plan as they feature in the Core Strategy.
Housing, employment, recreation, town centres and various other
forms of allocation will be identified. Work to prepare the
Allocations Plan is now underway.
Proposals Map
This map will show policies and proposals that are site specific
including the strategic sites, other sites allocated for
development through the Development Delivery Plan, town centre
boundaries, etc. It will also show constraints such as nature
designations and flood risk.
The adopted proposals map will reflect the most up-to-date plan
for the borough and will be updated when new policies and proposals
are adopted.
Residential Car Parking and Cycle Provision
SPD
(Adopted March 2010)
This Supplementary Planning Document (
SPD
) provides the details
of car parking space requirements and other considerations relevant
for parking provision on residential developments.
Housing SPD
(Adopted July 2011)
The Housing SPD expands on Core Strategy Policy CS9:
Housing and provides further advice in relation to housing, which
is considered necessary to plan for the right type, size and tenure
of housing within the borough in order to meet its needs. The
document also provides significant advice in respect of the
council’s approach to affordable housing provision.
Borough Design Guide
SPD
(Adopted December 2011)
This
SPD
provides further
detail on key design expectations and considerations.
Other Supplementary Planning Documents
- Public Service Village
SPD
(adopted February
2010)
- Leigh Park Strategic Framework (adopted July 2006)
- Havant Town Centre Urban Design Framework (adopted April
2006)
Further information on all the Supplementary Planning Documents
can be found here.
Other Important Documents:
Annual Monitoring Report (
AMR
)
This report details progress on the
LDF
and progress against
certain indicators. The
AMR
also includes an update
on housing delivery.
Statement of Community Involvement (
SCI
)
This document outlines how we will consult over planning
applications and plans.
Sustainability Appraisals (
SA
)
This assesses the positive and negative impacts of individual
documents on social, economic and environmental factors. A
SA
is required on
many
LDF
documents.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
Introduced in April 2010, CIL enables local
authorities to charge developers a fee when carrying out new
development within their local area. This fee is then utilised to
fund a range of infrastructure to support local communities and
neighbourhoods. This can include; schools, health centres,
transport schemes and flood defences.
This system of charging is flexible enough to
enable local authorities to determine what this money should be
used for. Charging authorities are required to set out a ‘Charging
Schedule’ setting out the CIL rates that they intend to charge.
Havant Borough Council are currently producing a Charging Schedule
setting out infrastructure priorities for funds raised by CIL. This
is intended for adoption by December 2012.
National and Regional Policy
Havant Borough Council's
LDF
will not be the only plan
to impact and influence development in our borough. There are two
levels of plan: a regional plan and the locally produced
LDF
.
Each region of England is covered by a plan called a Regional
Spatial Strategy (
RSS
). The one relevant to the
South East is called the South East Plan. The South East Plan looks
at issues such as how many homes are needed to meet the future
needs of people in the region and whether the region needs a new
major shopping centre or transport infrastructure.
The locally produced
LDF
for our
borough must take forward the work of the South East Plan and
ensure the requirements it identifies for the borough are
provided.
Some of the key points that the South East Plan requires the
council to plan for are: -
- 6,300 new homes between 2006-2026
- A large amount of new employment land
The Localism Act abolished the RSS we are awaiting
this legislation to be enacted.
In addition to the local and regional planning levels there is
also National Planning Policy and Guidance covering many different
aspects such as flood risk, mobile phone masts and
development in the countryside. The current system of Planning
Policy Guidance (PPG)/Planning Policy Statements (PPS) provide
national planning guidance relating to a range of issues. These are
also taken into account and policies at the local level should not
contradict national policy and guidance. Planning reforms aim to
change this current system by introducing a new National Planning
Policy Framework (NPPF). This document is intended to reduce
complexity within the planning system making it more accessible and
actively promoting sustainable growth and development. Consultation
for the draft
NPPF
closed on October
17 2011. We are awaiting details of the final
NPPF
.
How can you take part?
You can sign up for the quarterly
LDF
email newsletter which
will keep you informed of forthcoming public consultation and
exhibitions. Please let us know your contact details by completing
the
online form or telephoning us.
Regular updates are also published in 'Serving You', the
council's quarterly magazine, delivered to every home in the
borough.
Planning Policy Contacts
Tel: (023) 9244 6539
Email: policy.design@havant.gov.uk
Write to:
Planning Policy Team
Havant Borough Council
Public Service Plaza
Civic Centre Road
Havant
Hants
PO9 2AX
The team will be happy to discuss any queries that you may have
so please do not hesitate to contact us.