Local development framework
Did you know that all planning decisions - from deciding whether to build a new shopping centre, to whether to approve a new housing development - are assessed against a framework?
This type of framework is called a Local Development Framework (LDF). It helps to make sure the district is developed in the right way, including building the right number and types of houses, developing the right kind of shopping and recreation facilities, getting the right office and industrial spaces, creating opportunities for local jobs to be nurtured and protecting our wildlife, landscapes and heritage.
The LDF comprises a folder of documents that will replace the Lichfield Local Plan.
Latest news
The big planning debate - help shape our core strategy
Thankyou for your responses to the Core Strategy 'Shaping our District' consultation. A full schedule showing the summary of responses is now available. Full responses to all Core Strategy consultation documents are available to view through our consultation centre. Many responses raised questions in relation to the housing and employment development and in response to this further work has been commissioned. The findings of this work should be available to us later this year and we still aim to publish a formal draft plan in early 2012.
To make sure our plans are right for the district, we needed as many views on whether our proposals for the district are right - from where houses could be built, to what local facilities are needed. Please register at our consultation centre to be alerted to future consultations.
Community Consultation and Engagement
The Statement of Community Involvement sets out how we plan to involve the local community and stakeholders in the preparation of our Local Development Framework.
The Statement will also describe our procedures and arrangements for involving the community when considering planning applications and major proposals for development. To see examples of how we have engaged with our communities follow this link.
The Statement was adopted by the District Council on the 25th April 2006 following receipt of the Inspector's Report as set out in the Adoption Statement and Adoption Notice.
Rural Communities
Since summer 2010, we have been working with our larger rural villages to prepare a detailed report looking at their issues and needs, what the development opportunities are, and what the constraints are. This will be used to inform our work on the Local Development Framework. For more information please visit Rural Planning.
Some of our communities have also produced Parish Plans, follow the link to find out the latest news.
Changes to the planning system
The West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy was revoked by the Secretary of State on 6th July 2010, however a recent appeal decision reinstates the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy as part of the development plan for Lichfield District. Although Regional Strategies still form part of the development plan, it is expected that their abolition will follow through the Localism Bill as set out by Central Government.
For further information please click here. Evidence that informes Regional Policies/Proposals can still be obtained via The West Midlands Councils website
Call for sites
Details of the Call for Sites submissions have now been published, please follow the link below. The 'Call for Sites' is an early opportunity for individuals and organisations to suggest sites within Lichfield District for future uses. The site suggestions received by us will be used to inform the preparation of the Allocations of Land and Site Development document. Find out more about the call for sites...
Other documents related to the LDF
Most LDF related documents can be viewed via our Consultation Centre to view documents but before you can comment online you must register first.
Core Strategy (Development Plan Document)
The Core Strategy, currently in the process of being prepared, will form a key part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) for Lichfield District.
It will contain a vision and strategic objectives for the District as well as Core Policies that will set the basis for directing change in the District for the next 15 to 20 years.
Eventually the LDF will comprise of a series of Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs). All of these will need to be consistent, in their policies and proposals, with the Core Strategy.
Key Dates:
An informal consultation on the 'Core Strategy: Shaping Our District' was held between 19th November 2010 until 28th February 2011. Thank you to everybody who gave their views. A schedule of responses is now available. We are now working through these. The documents still can be downloaded from here.
After the informal consultation period, we anticipate working to the following timetable, which will allow a further formal opportunity to provide your views:
- Formal Publication Consultation Stage: July 2012
- Submission to Secretary of State: October 2012
- Examination in Public (Hearing Sessions): December 2012
- Adoption: March 2013
Information put forward by land owners/agents for potential strategic allocations:
As part of the formulation of the Core Strategy, we are considering allocating strategic housing sites in line with emerging preferred spatial development strategy. In accordance with this, initial proposals and studies have been submitted for consideration by the District Council to form part of the evidence base. The information that has been put forward by land owners / agents has been compiled in this section for ease and grouped by broad locations, evidence was submitted initially through the Preferred Options stage in December 2008, and some further evidence has been submitted for consideration as strategic allocations a selection of which are within the Shaping our District November 2010 consultation document. You can view the full range of submitted sites by visiting our call for sites page.
Allocations of Land & Site Development Policies (Development Plan Document)
The Land Allocations and Site Development Policies DPD will identify the requirements for the development of sites and areas that will contribute to the Core Strategy. Work on the document has commenced with the Call for Sites
Key Dates:
- Commencement of document: July 2009
- Publication of draft: September 2012
- Submission to Secretary of State: January 2013
- Commencement of examination: April 2013
- Adoption and publication: October 2013
Local Development Scheme
The Local Development Scheme is a public 'project plan' identifying which local development documents will be produced, in what order and when, however please note that some of the timescales have changed.
The Local Development Scheme acts as the starting point for the community and stakeholders to find out about the authority's planning policies in respect to a particular place or issue, and what the status of those policies. It also outline the details of and timetable for the production of all documents that make up the Local Development Framework over a three-year period.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)
These are non statutory documents used to supplement policies and strategies set out in the Development Plan Documents. They can cover a wide range of issues. There are several SPDs, some of which have been adopted and others on which work is currently under way.
To find out more, visit our Supplementary Planning Documents section.
Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA)
The policies and proposals contained in the Local Development Framework (LDF) must be appraised to ensure that they contribute to the aims of Sustainable Development. The SA/SEA document sets out the results of this appraisal.
A key requirement of the LDF is that it contributes to the aims of Sustainable Development. The government defines Sustainable Development as:
- Living within environmental limits
- Ensuring a strong healthy and just society
- Achieving a sustainable economy
- Promoting good governance
- Using sound science responsibly
Documents produced so far
- Scoping Report (June 2007) the first step in undertaking the SA
- Interim Sustainability Appraisal (December 2008), and Addendum (January 2011)
- Sustainability Appraisal: Shaping Our District (November 2010), this document was published alongside the Core Strategy: Shaping our District Consultation Document between November 2010 and February 2011.
These documents can also be viewed in the consultation centre
Evidence Base
We have assembled a range of information to inform the preparation of the Local Development Framework.
A number of assessments are currently being prepared and will form part of our evidence base. Visit our Evidence Base Section to find out more.
We also use up-to-date Parish Plans to help inform our work. Visit our Parish Plans section to view the latest information
Monitoring
Lots of monitoring takes place. 
The Annual Monitoring Report is a position statement setting out our monitoring strategy in relation to Local Development Framework (LDF) indicator requirements.
At this early stage, the AMR continues to put emphasis on explaining the shift away from the monitoring requirements of the 1998 Local Plan to the broader monitoring requirements associated with the LDF.
The Residential Land Availability shows the details of residential land completed, under construction and at planning application stage in the district.
