Woking Borough Council
Civic OfficesGloucester SquareWokingSurreyGU21 6YL
Telephone: 01483 755855
Local Development Framework (Woking 2027)
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Consultation on the Draft Core Stategy has been delayed.
The South East Plan was revoked by the Government on 6 July 2010.
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.
The Woking Local Development Framework (LDF) is known as Woking 2027.
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 came into effect on18May 2010following discussions with the Government Office for the South East and a resolution by the Council.
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
The Core Strategywill 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 2027, 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
The site allocations documentidentify 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.
Statement of Community Involvement
The Statement of Community Involvement is a DPD which 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 2010 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.
Supplementary Planning Documents
The Council's current SPDs are:
Outlook, Amenity, Privacy and Daylight
These will be reviewed after the adoption of the Core Startegy. 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/Evidence Baseand 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 or by consultants in order to inform the preparation of the Local Development Framework and make sure it is supported by a sound evidence base.
Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area (SPA)
In March 2005, the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) was classified under the EC Birds Directive. It includes areas of heathland across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, covering 11 different local authorities, including Woking. The sites in Woking are parts of Horsell Common, Sheets Heath and Brookwood Heath. The SPA has been identified as an internationally important breeding habitat for three rare species of bird - the Dartford warbler, woodlark and nightjar.
Those applying planning permission in the Borough should use Woking's Interim Strategy when applying for planning permission.
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.