The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced significant changes to the planning system. The key aims of the new system are to streamline the plan making process and promote a pro-active, positive approach to managing development. There is a very strong emphasis on community and stakeholder involvement in planning and making key strategic decisions early in the process.
The Act introduced Local Development Frameworks (LDFs), which replace the old system of Structure Plans (produced by County Councils) and Local Plans (produced by District Councils). The LDF will comprise a series of documents that set out policies and proposals for future development within each Local Planning Authority's area. Information on the Development Plan Documents (DPDs), which constitute the major documents that will form the LDF for St Albans District, can be found in our Local Development Scheme (LDS). The LDS is essentially the Council's three year work programme for the preparation of each DPD. A new draft LDS has been agreed by the District Council and is awaiting approval from the Regional body, the Government Office for the East of England (Go-East).
The District Council is working on the preparation of the following Development Plan Documents, which together will form the new statutory planning documents for the District:
• Core Strategy DPD
• Site Allocations DPD
• Development Policies DPD
The Council's Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) explains the Authority's approach to involving the community in the preparation and review of its planning policy documents and in development control decisions. The Council will adhere to the consultation techniques in the SCI when preparing the Local Development Framework documents.
LDF consultation publications
Given the age of the District Local Plan Review (adopted in November 1994) and the need for up-to-date planning policy guidance for St Albans District, it was originally envisaged that the three main proposed Development Plan Documents (Core Strategy, Site Allocations and Development Control Policies) would be prepared to a parallel timetable, with a Joint Issues and Options Consultation Document 2006.
Taking on board comments received from the Go-East regarding the need to better define the scope and content of each DPD, the Council decided to carry out a second round of consultation on Issues and Options specifically relating to the Core Strategy DPD (further consultation on the Site Allocations and Development Policies DPDs is planned for June 2010). Community and stakeholder consultation on the Core Strategy Issues and Options Document 2007 took place between July 2007 and September 2007.
Community and stakeholder consultation on the Emerging Core Strategy took place in August and September 2009.
The St Albans LDF Consultation Final Main Report, Summary of Landowner Comments, Summary of Stakeholder and Organisation Comments and the Summary of Proforma Responses have now been published.
In preparing the Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation papers and the Emerging Core Strategy paper, the District Council has taken into account the views and observations of the Council's Sustainability Appraisal consultants. The consultants were engaged at an early stage in the Core Strategy preparation process, in order to assess possible options against the agreed Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment framework for St Albans District and to influence the policy-making process. The consultants have continued to be engaged with DPD preparation at each subsequent stage.
A very successful Advisory Visit from David Vickery of the Planning Inspectorate was held in November. Its purpose was to consider what has been done so far in preparation of the Core Strategy (CS) and to identify those matters and questions that at this stage appear potentially problematic in terms of soundness. The finalised Advice Note is the St Albans CS Inspector's Note Final Revised.
Shaping Our Community - Core Strategy Consultation Resident and Stakeholder Workshops, July 2010
Presentations were given to a variety of resident, member and stakeholder groups during the week 12-14th July 2010. There were then facilitated group discussions and participants had an opportunity to feedback their views and vote on the scenarios presented. The workshops as a whole were very successful; the views expressed have been taken on board and will be used to inform our next consultation on the Core Strategy. Details can be found here.
To be notified of LDF consultation events as and when they take place, please register your details on the St Albans consultation database on the following page: http://stalbans-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal