Local development framework
The Local Development Framework (LDF) is a collection of
planning policy documents for the Borough. These are
individually known as Local Development Documents (LDDs).
Rochdale's
LDF
will comprise the following:
Development Plan Documents (DPD)
These will be prepared to set out both broad spatial
planning policies for key areas and land-uses, and detailed land
allocations. They set out the Council’s policies for meeting
the communities’ economic, environmental and social aims for the
future of their area where this affects the development and use of
land. Once adopted, they are the primary consideration in
determining planning applications.
DPD
s will comprise the
following:
No timetable yet for the following
DPD
s : Allocations, Proposals
Maps and Development Control Policies.
The strategic policies of the Regional Spatial Strategy
(RSS) also form part of the Borough’s
LDF
. All policies in
DPD
s must conform to
the
RSS
and
other government planning policy. The preparation of
the
RSS
will be
the responsibility of the North West Regional Assembly and will
have to be approved by the Department for Communities and Local
Government. Each
DPD
will be prepared in stages
and this will include consultation with interested parties and the
local community. Objections will be considered by an
independent planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of
State, whose recommendations will be binding on the
Council.
Other Local Development Documents (LDD)
Background
These
LDF
documents will be prepared as needed to guide certain types of
development or to guide development in certain parts of the
borough. They include policies and guidance to help the
Council make decisions on planning applications and to promote
investment and regeneration, and integrate land uses and transport.
The preparation of the
LDF
will be a continuous one
and over time the
LDF
will replace the borough’s
Unitary Development Plan (UDP) adopted in
June 2006. The new system of
LDF
s was introduced in 2004 by
the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Other requirements
Sustainability appraisals
Sustainable development is a term that has been commonly used
since the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Its aim is
to balance economic progress with social and environmental
needs. A widely used definition was drawn up by the world
commission on Environment and Development in 1987.
"Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs".
Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a process which provides a
mechanism for balancing the often conflicting needs of economic,
social and environmental issues and identifies how improvements or
compromises can be made to agree on the most sustainable
outcome.
In accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act
2004, all
DPD
s and
SPD
s are
Subject to
SA
.
Consultation
All
DPD
s and
the
SCI
will be prepared in full consultation with the local community and
adopted by the Council following independent and binding
examination by an Inspector appointed by the Planning
Inspectorate.
All
SPD
s will be prepared and
adopted by the Council in full consultation with the local
community.
The
LDS
will be
prepared and adopted by the Council in consultation with the Local
Strategic Partnership, subject to the approval of the Department
for Communities and Local Government.
To assist community involvement in the preparation of
LDF
documents, a
consultation database is being complied. Many organisations
have responded through the publicity on the Statement of Community
Involvement but any Individual or organisations who wish to be
involved in the
LDF
should register
with the Strategic Planning Service database so that they
may be informed/consulted on the relevant document at the
appropriate time.
Its scope and influences
The policies and guidance in the
LDF
will be influenced by:
- Government legislation and national planning policy contained
in Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs), which are slowly being
replaced by Planning Policy Statements (PPSs)
- Regional policy as contained in the Regional Spatial
Strategy for the North West (RSS).
- The Council’s Community Strategy and sub-regional / local
strategies and programmes
- A Sustainability Appraisal to ensure that environmental, social
and economic issues have been properly considered and
balanced.
- Evidence
Base - Consists of a range of documents that set the planning
policy context, and studies which analyse the demographic,
economic, social and environmental factors, that are used to
support and justify policy formulation.
Further information
Further information about the purpose, scope and content of
LDF
s can be found
in the following documents published by the Office for the Deputy
Prime Minister in late 2004 (Now called Communities and Local
Government):
- Planning Policy Statement 12 (PPS 12): Local Development
Frameworks
- Creating Local Development Frameworks – A Companion Guide to
PPS 12
Communities and Local
Government