Forward Planning – Development Plan Monitoring
Heaton Planning can provide development plan monitoring, planning guidance and advice to help developers and individuals through the development plan system. We act on behalf of a number of clients in monitoring the progress of development plans, and seeking to protect existing interests as well as the promotion of future development. We can offer a full development plan monitoring package having developed a database that can be adjusted to suit individual clients needs.
Under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, Local Planning Authorities have a requirement to prepare a Local Development Framework (LDF). The LDF will be comprised of local development documents that will deliver the spatial planning strategy for the Local Planning Authority’s area. The Core Strategy is the key plan within the LDF.
The Challenge – in comparison to the old Local Plans there are now more framework documents and therefore increased administration, consultation, management, reporting and decision making. All these documents need reviewing if you are to protect future interests which is why it is important to undertake development plan monitoring. Also, the opportunities for legal challenge have grown. Nevertheless, the documents that make up the LDF, including minerals and waste development frameworks, provide planning policy for the next 15 to 20 years. Engagement with the process is recommended to protect future interests. The Challenge is to protect against overly restrictive policies/ designations and to also promote any future areas of development. The Challenge is also to ensure that, where you have a proposal site allocated in the LDF, the local planning authority has sufficient evidence and followed the correct approach to site selection to be able to demonstrate to the Planning Inspector that it is a suitable allocation.
The Hazards – The system is front loaded, so it is important to secure involvement and a position from the start, otherwise the ability to participate can be lost. Ongoing development plan monitoring ensures that you do not miss out on important consultation documents. Our experience has shown that it is vital to engage in the process from an early stage and ensure that representations at the submission stage have regard to the detail of the document, are robust and supported with credible evidence. The LDF system is no longer subject to Local Plan Inquiry and cross examination. Documents are now subject to an Examination in Public (EiP) held by a Planning Inspector who takes an inquisitorial role. The report of the Planning Inspector is binding on the planning authority and the system is therefore reliant on the approach and performance of the Inspector, who in turn is reliant on the evidence and the representations put before him/ her.
Some recent examples of clients we have represented include:
Lafarge Aggregates Ltd – Representations in regard to Northamptonshire Minerals Development Framework – Planning Inspector agreed with Heaton Planning that a blanket approach to prevent mineral working in the undisturbed river valley was unjustified and therefore unsound. This approach has now been removed from the Core Strategy. We also provide ongoing development plan monitoring to Lafarge.
Waystone Limited – Promotion of land for a mixed use development including the provision of housing, employment, education, retail and leisure uses. Following promotion of this site by Heaton Planning it is now a preferred option within the Bolsover LDF moving forwards to being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. We also undertake development plan monitoring on behalf of Waystone.
UK Coal – ongoing development plan monitoring, representations and appearance at EIP for a number of mineral development frameworks across the UK, and promotion of both surface mine and deep mine developments.
Lafarge Aggregates Ltd – Representations in regard to Cambridgeshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework – promotion of 2 borrow pit sites to provide material to the A14 improvements. Assembling environmental assessment work and project managing specialists to demonstrate deliverability.
Bullimores Sand & Gravel Ltd – influenced policy changes to Northamptonshire County Council’s Minerals Local Plan in regard to crushed rock provision. We provide ongoing development plan monitoring to Bullimores for the East Midlands area.
Numerous proposals for promotion of land for housing within the South Nottinghamshire area.