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 well designed and appropriately located.
This is known as 'sustainable' planning. 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.
- Plain English guide to the planning system (pdf 331 kb)
The Local Plan
The Local Plan is important as it sets out how our borough will look and feel in the future. These plans influence planning applications and will ensure that there is space for the new housing and employment that we must provide. The planning system has to make difficult decisions and balance different views.
An integral part of formulating a Local Plan is community involvement and consultation, this is reinforced through the introduction of the Localism Act 2011. The Act aims to give power back to local communities and authorities through the introduction of 'Neighbourhood Planning'.
Interactive policies map
The interactive policies map only shows the spatial policies, other Local Plan policies may apply and we recommend you view the accompanying local plan documents:
- Local Plan (Core Strategy) adopted March 2011 (pdf 2.9 mb)
- Local Plan (Allocations) adopted July 2014 (pdf 27 mb)
A booklet version of the policies map can also be viewed.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
In March 2012, the government introduced the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), as the national guidance to plan making and decision making. The NPPF is a streamline document, which together with the new Planning Practice Guidance, replaces the numerous Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) that previously guided planning.
The NPPF no longer makes reference to the Local Development Framework (LDF) as basis for local planning policy decision making, and instead points to the Development Plan and the Local Plan, as being the key planning policy framework.
Community Infrastructure Development CIL
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a system of charges that local planning authorities can use to raise funds from developers. The CIL can be charged on most new building projects, to fund a wide range of infrastructure needed to support new development.