Statutory development plans

Online Form: Statutory development plans

Development planning is a continuous process of looking forward and deciding on a course of action to improve people's quality of life and the appearance of our environment in a sustainable way. It involves protecting the best, improving the worst, and aiming positively to ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations.

Development plans focus on land use development and protection set within the context of wider social, economic and environmental trends and considerations. Reflecting national and regional planning policies, development plans make strategic provision for the long-term use of land and buildings, providing a framework for local decision making and the reconciliation of competing development and conservation interests.

They aim to ensure that land use changes proceed coherently, efficiently, and with maximum community benefit. Development Plans indicate clearly how local residents, landowners, and other interested parties might be affected by land use change. They are subject to regular periods of intensive public consultation, involvement and negotiation.

Decisions on planning applications are made in accordance with the adopted Development Plan unless other material considerations, relating to land use development, indicate otherwise.

The Development Plan, up until 2004, was expressed as the Unitary Development Plan but with as the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) has come into force, the Development Plan is now described by documents in the Local Development Framework.

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Page updated: 27 Dec 2007