The Local Plan: Development Management Policies adopted

The Local Plan: Development Management Policies (LPDMP) was adopted by Full Council on 22 March 2023. This is the second part of the Local Plan. It supplements the adopted Local Plan: Strategy and Sites (2019) and supersedes the Local Plan 2003.

The LPDMP brings a range of new development management policies. It will help shape and deliver high quality new development. It includes policies related to:

• design
• heritage
• biodiversity and
• climate change

It is the culmination of three years of work, including two public consultations. 

After a three-day hearing, the inspector concluded that the plan was 'sound' subject to some main modifications. Councillors decided to adopt the plan with these main modifications following a consultation.

The LPDMP is now part of the council's formal 'development plan'. It will carry full weight in decision making.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Julia McShane, said: 

"After three years of hard work, this is a great milestone for the Council."

Lead Councillor for Planning Policy, Cllr Joss Bigmore said:  

"I am delighted that our Development Management Policies Local Plan has been adopted. It means that we now get to set the standards that developers must meet. For example we are especially pleased that our class-leading requirement of at least 20% Biodiversity Net Gain on development sites, which is higher than the national requirement of 10%, is included in the plan. The Plan will be the starting point for our decision-making for planning and development, together with the Local Plan Strategy and Sites."

Parking Standards for new Development Supplementary Planning Document were adopted by the Executive on 20 March. It now also carries full weight in decision making. It will help shape car and cycle parking in new developments.