Local Development Framework
Welcome to our web page on the Malvern Hills District Local
Development Framework.
What's it all about?
The Planning system has an impact on the District through the
management of land use and future development. Balancing the
need for new development against the need to protect the quality
and unique elements of Malvern Hills District is one aspect which
guides the District Council’s decisions but our vision is about
building communities which provide for the needs of all.
Sustainable development is central to this aim.
Changes to the new national Planning system came into effect in
September 2004. A Local Development Framework (LDF) replaces
the old system of County Structure Plans and Local Plans. The
development plan for our district will consist of the Regional
Spatial Strategy, the Worcestershire County Council Minerals and
Waste Plans and development plan documents prepared by the District
Council. The development plan will be the starting point in
the consideration of planning applications. It will provide the
planning framework to guide future land use and planning decisions
within the District.
The aim of the changes is to speed up the Plan process and
provide greater flexibility so that we, as the local planning
authority can respond more quickly to changing circumstances.
This is a fundamental review of the whole of the Planning system
in England and Wales and includes the production of many new types
of documents.
For more information on the planning system and a summary of
what is happening locally please view our latest Annual Monitoring Report.
What will the new LDF contain?
The LDF will consist of a series of Local Development Documents
(LDDs). These include statutory development plan documents (DPDs)
and supplementary planning documents (SPDs):
A
visual guide to the Local Development Framework
| Local Development Scheme
(LDS) |
The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the timetable for
the documents that this Council will be producing as part of its
Local Development Framework. It provides a starting point for
you to see what documentation will be produced and at what stage
you can become involved in the process.
|
| Statement of Community
Involvement (SCI) |
This sets out how and when we will involve you in the creation
of Planning documents to be included in the LDF and in making
development control decisions. The SCI is in the final stages
of preparation.
|
| Annual Monitoring Report
(AMR) |
The purpose of the AMR is to report progress on the LDF against
the timetable and milestones set out in the Local Development
Scheme (LDS) and to assess the extent to which Local Development
Documents and their policies are being implemented.
|
| South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy
(SWJCS) DPD |
This is a Joint Core Strategy involving collaborative work
between Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon
District Councils. This sets out the land use vision and objectives
for the South Worcestershire area until the year 2026 and will
replace certain policies in the Local Plan. Preparation on the
document commenced in January 2007.
|
| South Worcestershire Joint Site Allocations
and Policies DPD |
This will identify the site specific allocations such as housing
and employment use, and policy designations such as the Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty, wildlife designations and Conservation
Areas, the document will have to conform with the Core Strategy.
This is a Joint Site Allocations document involving
collaborative work between Malvern Hills District, Worcester City
and Wychavon District Councils. Preparation on
the document commenced in January 2009.
|
|
Supplementary Planning
Guidance
and
Supplementary Planning
Documents
|
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) will replace
Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG). These documents cover a wide
range of policy and site specific issues to support policies and
proposals outlined in the Development Plan Documents.
SPD does not have development plan status but is used to provide
more detail on policies set out in the development plan, is subject
to extensive public consultation and are material considerations in
the determination of planning applications.
If you are preparing a planning application you should consider
the guidance set out in these documents, as well as the relevant
policies in the Development Plan.
|
| Developing and Managing the
Evidence Base |
A comprehensive evidence base is an essential part of ensuring
that our policies and plans are soundly based and reflect needs and
opportunities within the District.
|
What about the Existing Plan Documents?
Transitional arrangements for moving from the old to the new
system allow some Plans to retain their development plan status and
for their policies to remain saved for a period of time.
These Plans include:
-
The Worcestershire County Structure Plan (June 2001), policies
saved for consideration until 2011.
- The Malvern Hills District Local
Plan (adopted July
2006) - The policies are automatically saved
for three years until July 2009. However we have save our policies
beyond July 2009. For more information on saved policies,
their purpose, reasons why they have been saved and
how they will eventually be replaced please click here.
- Our existing supplementary planning guidance on Affordable
Housing and the North Site Development Brief and associated
Affordable Housing Brief will also be saved until 2007.
As part of the revised development planning system, the
Structure Plan is superseded by the West Midlands Regional Spatial
Strategy (RSS) and local development documents, including the Core
Strategy. Although some of the Structure Plan policies have been
'saved' in the interim, policies such as housing targets are not.
Please click the below link for clarification as to which policies
will expire as of 27th September 2007.
Expired Structure
Plan Policies
If you have any comments, please contact us:
| Post your comments to: |
or you can: |
Development Plans and Conservation Team
The Council House
Avenue Road
Malvern
WR14 3AF |
Telephone: 01684 862151
Fax: 01684 574906
Minicom: 01684 862186
Email: worcestershirehub@malvernhills.gov.uk |
