Local Development Frameworks, smoothing a way through the new system

Three years have passed since the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act brought into force a complete overhaul of the Development Plans system. Whilst a number of Core Strategies have been found ‘unsound’ other authorities have successfully navigated through the new system and achieved a ‘sound’ Core Strategy, most recently Hambleton.

A key feature of the new system is ‘frontloading.’ What does that mean in practice and how can we draw upon the lessons learnt so far? Crucially, how should a developer pursue an allocation in a Site Specific Allocations document or Area Action Plan? What information should be submitted, and when, to ensure no risk of the proposed allocation being found unsound? NLP shared their experiences and thoughts on how to smooth a way through the system.

Community Involvement is also a key requirement of the new system including the requirement for Council’s to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement. There is a need to ensure that any allocation, even if promoted by a developer, needs to be subject to proper consultation if it is to be found sound. Sally Thomas from Social Regeneration Consultants shared experiences of the right techniques to develop good relationships with the local community to maximise their support when pursuing a representation through the system.