Local Development Framework
In accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 the current Local Plan will be replaced by a Local Development
Framework (LDF). Preparation of the LDF has commenced. It will ultimately comprise of a portfolio of different documents covering
such issues as Housing, Employment and Retail.
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 allowed for all policies in the adopted Blaby District Local Plan to retain
Development Plan status until 27th September 2007. After this date only these policies specifically agreed by the Secretary
of State retain this status, until they are superseded by policies within LDF documents.
A Direction from the Secretary of State, dated 21st September 2007, lists in a schedule these policies of the Blaby District
Local Plan, which remain part of the Development Plan (referred to as “saved policies”). These policies will continue to be
the basis upon which planning applications will be determined, until such time as they are superseded by policies within LDF
documents.
Documents that will make up the LDF include;
Development Plan Documents (DPDs): DPDs will address key spatial planning issues such as housing, employment,
recreation etc and once adopted will be part of the Development Plan. DPDs are also subject to a Sustainability
Appraisal. At present the following DPDs are planned for preparation; Core Strategy, Allocations and Designations.
Preparation of the Core
Strategy has commenced however following the receipt of representations at the Preferred Options stage (April 2006), the
Council has to produced an amended Core Strategy (Issues and Options Paper) that considers further the levels of housing and
employment land required for the District and takes into consideration recent improvements to the evidence base.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs): SPDs do not have Development Plan Status but elaborate on policies
and proposals contained in Development Plan Documents (DPDs). At present an Affordable Housing SPD and a Sustainable Urban
Extension and Strategic Employment Site DPD are planned for preparation.
The Local Development Scheme (LDS):
This document provides a project plan for the preparation of all other LDF documents. The LDS also provides a useful introduction
to the Local Development Framework. The LDS was approved by the Cabinet Executive in May 2007. Table 2 shows public
participation on both the Core Strategy DPD ( Preferred Options ) and the Draft Affordable Housing SPD scheduled for May –
July 2008. This timetable has slipped. The Council is currently considering revisions to the agreed programme. This section
of the website will be updated when the revised programme has been agreed. The Statement
of Community Involvement (SCI): The SCI outlines how and when the local community can become involved in the production
of the LDF. The SCI was adopted by this Council in July 2006.
The Annual Monitoring Report
(AMR): The AMR monitors the progress and performance of the LDF on an annual basis. AMR's were approved by this Council in
December 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The LDF will be informed by wide-ranging research. This research forms part of the LDF evidence base; some of the evidence
base is currently available for inspection on the web-site including: the Housing
Needs Assessment, Employment
Land Study, Urban Capacity
Study, Issues Papers,
Village Services Fact-File,
Gypsy
and Travellers Accommodation Assessment, Strategic
Flood Risk Assessment, Landscape
Character Assessment and the Climate
Change Study
