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The New Plan Making System
Following the introduction of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 a number of significant changes were introduced to the planning system. Under the new system the production of County Structure Plans has been abolished; these will be replaced with a regional level statutory policy in the form of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). The current adopted Joint Structure Plan will still be used to guide development within Somerset and Exmoor National Park until which time the Regional Spatial Strategy replaces it.
At the local level a more flexible Local Development Framework (LDF) has been introduced to replace Local Plans. For the County Council, this means that the current adopted Minerals and Waste Local Plans will gradually be replaced by a Minerals and Waste Development Framework (MWDF). The MWDF will be made up of individual documents, which will address a number of different issues relating to minerals and waste development in the County.
For more information on the MWDF follow this link.
The County Role and Function
With the abolition of Structure Plans the County Council now has a statutory role assisting the Regional Assembly in the production of the RSS and associated documents, through an Agency Agreement.
The role will include:
- Ensuring Somerset District LDFs are in general conformity with the RSS;
- A consultee for major planning applications.
- Offering pre-application advice.
- Monitoring the implementation of the RSS.
- Assistance in the preparation of the RSS and associated documents, for example, the Taunton Sub Area Study has recently been completed and this will feed into the RSS.
- Responsibility for preparing and monitoring the Minerals and Waste Local Development Frameworks.
Under the provisions of the Act the County Council will continue to be the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority for Somerset. This means that as well as producing the new Minerals and Waste Development Framework the County Council will continue to be the determining authority for minerals and waste planning applications.
A Quick Guide to the New Planning System has been prepared and can be viewed here .....more
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The National Planning Portal's visual guide to Local Development Frameworks introduces and explains the importance and role of each development document. It also explains the importance of community involvement in the creation of the documents - a crucial part of the new plan system.
The guide can be viewed by clicking on the Planning Portal Logo:
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Further information about the new plan making system can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) websit at www.communities.gov.uk
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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