Development Plan

 

The new Development Plan system presents a radical departure which in the view of Sanderson Weatherall has been underestimated in terms of its implications for land owning and developer clients.  In the past, it has been possible for those with interests to respond to proposals of the local planning authority (LPA).  The new system is very heavily "front loaded" and also involves significant community involvement. 

 

This raises two sets of issues.  Firstly, it is now essential that any possible future development interests are safeguarded through the preparation of Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) from the outset.  Failure to do so not only reduces the likelihood that the LPA will take any proposals seriously, but also when the more formal stages are reached, will make it harder to obtain a place at the Round Table discussions, which will be the usual forum for debate, rather than the Public Inquiry process of the past.

 

Secondly, a whole range of local bodies and interests groups, who's interests may well not coincide with those of land owners or developers, are now very much involved in the process.  They can therefore play a major part in setting the local planning agenda, which may well not be particularly developer friendly.

 

Sanderson Weatherall's planning team has established databases giving details of the stages reached in Development Plan procedures and offers an appropriate monitoring and registration of interest service to ensure that opportunities are not missed.  In addition, as the process goes forward and additional technical representations are required, the planning team has significant experience of carrying out the necessary studies and making representations, as well as appearing at subsequent Examinations in Public.

 

Click here to contact the Planning team.

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