Local Development Framework

In September 2004, the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act was passed and brought in a fundamentally new development plan system. Local authorities must start work on replacing their existing Local Plans with Local Development Frameworks (LDF).

Contact details for the Development Plan Team:
Tel: (01827) 709279, 709278, 709384 or 709275
Fax: (01827) 709277
Email: developmentplan@tamworth.gov.uk

Update on Regional Spatial Strategy

The Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands together with the Tamworth Local Development Framework will make up the new development plan for Tamworth. The West Midlands Regional Assembly has submitted its latest plans for the Phase Two Revision of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy to the Secretary of State. This part of the Strategy will set out how a range of issues in the Region will be dealt with, including housing and employment land, centres and transport. Following a letter from Baroness Andrews, Government Office for the West Midland Additional commissioned consultants to review the Region's housing figures. The report was produced in October 2008. 

The Examination closed in June 2009 and the Panel Report was published on 28 September 2009.  Please click on West Midlands Regional Assembly website or the Planning Inspectorate's website for further details. 

Update on Tamworth Local Plan

Under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Local Plan policies remained in force for three years from 6 July 2006, which is when it was adopted.  The Council had to apply to the Secretary of State for agreement to issue a direction to save any of these beyond 5 July 2009 and an application was made in November 2008 to save 27 policies.   The Secretary of State has agreed to the Council’s request and has issued a direction to this effect.   Click on the Local Plan link on the right for further information and to download the Saved Policy version of the Local Plan.

Local Development Framework

Local Development Frameworks are made up of two types of Local Development Documents: Development Plan Documents (DPDs) that set out specific policies and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) which expand these policies or provide additional detail.

The following documents also form part of the Local Development Framework: the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), the Local Development Scheme (LDS) and the Annual Monitoring Report (AMR).

What documents will we prepare?
We will produce the following documents over the next three years:

  • A Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the Council's programme for the production of Local Development Documents over the next three years.
  • The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out how the Council will involve the public in the preparation of the Local Development Framework and planning application decisions.
  • A Core Strategy will set out the area-specific vision, measurable objectives and strategic policies in the borough.
  • An Allocations Development Plan Document will identify sites for future development including sites for housing and employment.
  • Sustainability Appraisals (SA) will assess the social, economic and environmental effects of policies and proposals included in a Local Development Document. A Sustainability Appraisal will be prepared alongside the Core Strategy and Allocations DPD (Housing). It may also be necessary to prepare a SA in conjunction with a Supplementary Planning Document.
  • An Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) will be prepared each year in December providing details of policy implementation and progress on Local Development Document preparation.
  • Supplementary Planning Documents will be produced as necessary.

Evidence Base

We have been collecting evidence since 2006 and as well as producing a main summary document, we have undertaken a large number of individual studies around different issues.  You can access the evidence base documents via the link on the right.

Current Consultations

We have just finished consulting on the Proposed Spatial Strategy version of the Core Strategy.  Please click on the link to the Core Strategy on the right for further information.  The next stage will be to report the responses to Cabinet in early 2010.