Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Development plan scheme
Each authority is required to publish a statement giving a brief description of the local
development documents it intends to produce and the timetable to be followed for
each of them. This is submitted to the Government Regional Office who need to be
satisfied that the programme is appropriate and deliverable and is consistent with PSA
targets in this field. In the past, unlike Local Transport Plans, there has been no pre-
ordained timetable for the production of development plans or the period within which
they needed to be reviewed. Currently however, in order to fulfil a cross-government
Public Service Agreement for additional housing, local planning authorities have been
urged to adopt the necessary planning documents by March 2011.
Publication of the Local Development Scheme enables principal stakeholders and
members of the public to identify when the planning of particular topics or areas will
come under consideration. This has particular importance given the emphasis which
is placed in the new system on community involvement.
Statement of Community Involvement
Authorities are required to prepare an overarching Statement of Community
Involvement (SCI) which sets out the standards it intends to achieve generally in
involving sectors of the community in the preparation and review of planning
documents. The SCI has to be published and is open to 'representations' (i.e.
objections and requests for changes). Initially the SCI was to be subject to independent
examination (as are the plans themselves) but the Government has since stated its
intention to rescind this requirement because of the more general duty being imposed
on local authorities concerning public consultation (19.7 below).
Annual Monitoring Report
Authorities are also required to produce an Annual Monitoring Report which assesses
progress:
a
in implementing the local development scheme
b
in achieving the policies contained in the local development documents.
Where implementation is falling behind schedule or is failing to meet targets reasons
have to be given and the need for any update or addition to the local development
scheme identified.
Preparation of development plan documents
Development plan documents (i.e. those which the authority intends should form part
of the statutory development plan for its area) have to be prepared in four distinct
stages:
1
Pre-production: Survey and evidence gathering
2
Production: Preparation of preferred options in consultation with the community,
formal participation on these and submission of the document in the light of
representations received
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