THE SOMERSET AND EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK JOINT STRUCTURE PLAN

1.1 The Joint Structure Plan Review provides the strategic base for all land use planning in the combined area covered by Somerset and the Exmoor National Park for the period up to 2011. The Plan has been prepared as a joint Structure Plan between Somerset County Council and the Exmoor National Park Authority.

1.2 The Joint Structure Plan covers the administrative county of Somerset and the Exmoor National Park. The former Somerset Structure Plan Alteration No.2, covered the whole of Somerset including that part of the Exmoor National Park within Somerset. The strategic planning policy for the part of the National Park that is within Devon was previously provided through the Devon Structure Plan (incorporating the Third Alteration).

THE ROLE OF THE STRUCTURE PLAN

1.3 The strategic planning authorities have a statutory duty to keep the Structure Plan up to date. The Plan has three main functions:

• To provide a framework of strategic policies for local planning and development control decisions.
• To ensure that the provision for development is realistic and consistent with national and regional policy.
• To secure consistency between local plans.

1.4 The Structure Plan provides the link between the Government's national and regional planning policy and the detailed plans prepared by district and borough councils. It is a statement of overall strategy for the conservation, use and development of land. Policies and proposals are strategic in nature. Detailed policies and proposals are provided by local plans.

THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN SOMERSET AND THE EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

1.5 The development plan for Somerset and Exmoor is comprised of the adopted land-use planning based structure and local plans for the area. It is expected to contribute towards the Government's national strategy of sustainable development. This has four main elements that should be given equal consideration in the determination of future land-use development. These include:

• sustained and stable economic growth and employment;
• recognition of the social needs of all parts of the community and reducing inequality;
• protection of the environment; and
• the prudent use of natural resources.

1.6 The development plan for Somerset consists of:

• The Joint Structure Plan.
• Local plans prepared by District and Borough Councils (local plans must cover the whole of the area for which the respective Council is the Local Planning Authority), and,
• Mineral and Waste local plans prepared by Somerset County Council, of that part of the administrative county for which the County Council is the Strategic Planning Authority.

1.7 Within the Exmoor National Park, environmental considerations may be given priority over economic and social considerations where development can be demonstrated as being in conflict with the purpose of the National Park as defined in The Environment Act 1995. The development plan for Exmoor National Park consists of:

• The Joint Structure Plan, and,
• The Exmoor National Park Local Plan (incorporating policies on Minerals and Waste)

1.8 Local plans are required to be in general conformity with the structure plan so that the documents together form one coherent development plan. The local planning authorities are currently preparing their district wide local plans. It is envisaged that Local Transport Plans, which currently do not have the same legal status as local plans, will eventually be prepared in parallel with the development plan in order to ensure a consistency and an integration between land-use planning and transport planning objectives and strategies.

1.9 The development plan is the most important planning document for the plan area. The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991) in Section 54A requires that all planning decisions should be in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Therefore it is essential that the development plan is kept up to date. The Joint Structure Plan should be read as a whole in considering any planning matter. 

THE EUROPEAN, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT

1.10 The law, plans and policies of the European Union and the U.K. Central Government exert an influence on the future planning of Somerset and Exmoor.

European Union

1.11 The County Council and the National Park Authority actively participate in a number of European organisations. EU policy is becoming more influential both through direct support for programmes in parts of the county and in broader policy. There are three main areas where it may influence Somerset and Exmoor:

• greater priority to environmental issues;
• the review of agricultural support policies and moves towards an integrated rural policy framework; annd
• improving accessibility to the industrial and business centres of the Union.

National

1.12 The Government issues Planning Policy Guidance notes on a range of land use planning topics and policy is also conveyed through Circulars and Ministerial statements. These have been taken into account in formulating policies. Of particular relevance is the requirement on the planning system to contribute to sustainable development. In November 2000, the Government published two White Papers; Our Countryside: The Future - A Fair deal for Rural England and, Our Towns and Cities: The Future - Delivering an Urban Renaissance for consultation. These provide an outline of their vision and intended policy approach to the issues confronting both urban areas and rural areas. These will inform the monitoring of the strategy and policies contained in the Joint Structure Plan and influence future amendments and revisions to them.

Regional

1.13 RPG 10: Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (1994), has reiterated the Government's commitment to sustainable development in the South West Region (See below) 

It provides guidance for preparing the policies of the structure plans. This guidance is being reviewed and will cover the period to 2016. Following the publication of the final revised version of the regional guidance, work will commence on amending the Joint Structure Plan, in order to conform with the contents and timescale of the new regional guidance. The proposals of adjoining structure plans have been taken into account in the preparation of this Plan.

THE STRUCTURE PLAN PROCESS

1.14 The review process has covered a number of stages.

• The brief for the Plan was published in Autumn 1993.
• The Consultation Draft was published in February 1995.
• The Deposit Plan was published in February 1997.
• The Examination in Public was held in January 1998.
• The Proposed Modifications were published in November 1999
• The Plan was Adopted on 20 April 2000.

SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL

1.15 There is a requirement on planning authorities to undertake an appraisal of their plans. The sustainability appraisal, undertaken with this review, was published separately at the deposit stage in February 1997. The sustainability appraisal will be revisited in the review of the Plan, where the exercise will be undertaken again as the appraisal is an essential and integral part of the process.