Local Development Framework

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 changed the way in which development plans are prepared.  The new plan-making system introduced Regional Spatial Strategies (such as the South East Plan), and Local Development Frameworks to replace the previous system of Regional Planning Guidance, Structure Plans and Local Plans.

Details of the new system can be found on the Planning Portal website.

Local Development Scheme

The Council produces and maintains a Local Development Scheme (LDS) which sets out a programme and timetable for producing the documents that will make up the Local Development Framework (LDF).  The latest version of the LDS was approved by the Council's Executive at its meeting on 2 April 2009 and has now been submitted to the Government Office for the South East.

Development Plan Documents

Together with the South East Plan, Development Plan Documents (DPDs) will form part of the development plan for Woking.  DPDs are examined by an independent Planning Inspector before they can be adopted, and the Inspector's report is binding. This means that any changes set out in it must be made by the Council.

The Local Development Framework will consist of three Development Plan Documents (DPDs) which set out new planning policies for the Borough.  The DPDs that the Borough Council will produce are:

Core Strategy - this will set out the vision, objectives and spatial strategy for the area.  The Core Strategy must be in conformity with the South East Plan, which forms part of the development plan for Woking.  All other DPDs must be in conformity with the Core Strategy.  The Core Strategy will set out how the Borough Council will meet known and anticipated development requirements to 2026, including the number of dwellings to be provided.  It will also set out a core set of policies in accordance with which planning applications will be determined.

Site Allocations - this will identify and allocate specific locations in the borough where major development will take place in accordance with the vision and spatial strategy set out in the Core Strategy.

Proposals Map

The Council is required to include a Proposals Map in its Local Development Framework, which explains geographically the adopted policies and proposals of Woking LDF Development Plan Documents.

It must also show the adopted policies of the Surrey Minerals and Waste Development Framework, which is prepared by Surrey County Council.  The Surrey Waste Plan was adopted on 6 May 2008.

The Surrey Minerals Plan is being prepared to replace the Surrey Minerals Local Plan 1993. It is due to be submitted to the Secretary of State in 2010.

The Proposals Map is classed as a DPD but is not itself subject to independent examination by an Inspector. It will be updated every time a new policy that needs to be shown on a map is adopted.

Supplementary Planning Documents

One of the key Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) that the Council has produced is the:

Statement of Community Involvement - this sets out when and how people can get involved in the plan-making process and in the consideration of planning applications.  The Council's Statement of Community Involvement was adopted in March 2007.  It is to be revised in 2009 to take account of changes made to the plan-making process by the Government in 2008 and 2009.

The Council will also produce Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) to support DPDs.  They will explain in more detail the application of particular policies set out in the Core Strategy and other DPDs, or policies of the Woking Borough Local Plan 1999 that have been 'saved' for continued use as part of the LDF.

The Council's current SPDs are:

Future SPDs are planned following the preparation of the Core Strategy.

Sustainability Appraisal

The Borough Council must undertake a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of each DPD.  The purpose of SA is to ensure that the Council's policy approach is as sustainable as possible, balancing social, environmental and economic needs. The SA will identify and report on the likely significant effects of a DPD and the extent to which implementation of policies will achieve the social, economic and environmental objectives.

Local Development Framework Research and Monitoring

The Council produces monitoring reports which are published at regular intervals.  A full list found on the publications page.  A number of research projects have been undertaken by the Council in order to inform the preparation of the Local Development Framework.

LDF Newsletter

Local residents, planning professionals and other interested parties are kept up to date on the progress of our Local Development Framework (LDF) via our  LDF newsletter.

Get Involved

If you would like to be involved in or kept informed of the preparation of the Local Development Framework, you can register online, email or telephone the Planning Policy team on 01483 743871.