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, 709275 or 709384
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 started in April 2009 and and is taking place in front of an expert panel which will report to the Planning Minister.  You can view the documents at the Council's offices at Marmion House or via the West Midlands Regional Assembly website.  You can view the Examination timetable using the link to the Planning Inspectorate website on the right.

Update on Tamworth Local Plan

The Tamworth Local Plan was adopted on 6 July 2006 and under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the policies remain in force for three years.  The Council has applied to the Secretary of State to save a number of the policies beyond 6 July 2009.  The main consideration for saving policies is that they should be in conformity with but not repeat national and regional policy, they should support a clear central strategy, they should relate to a specific unimplemented proposal or allocation or represent a locally distinct interpretation of policy. It is expected that we will know which policies will be saved in June 2009.

You can view the Cabinet report on the right.  If you would like to make representations on the choice of policies that the Council wishes to save, please contact GOWM at the following address, not the Borough Council.

Sustainable Futures Directorate
Government Office for the West Midlands
5 St. Philip’s Place
Colmore Row
Birmingham
B3 2PW

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.

Current consultations

We have taken account of comments to the Issues and Options document to draft an Option version of the Core Strategy, which we consulted on from 19 February to 20 March 2009.  The intention is to produce a Draft Core Strategy in September.  Please click on the link to the Core Strategy on the right for further information.