About the new planning system
The Planning and Compulsory Act 2004 has placed town planning at the heart of the government's Urban Renaissance agenda and its drive to create 'sustainable communities'
The government wants economic development, housing and environmental protection strategies to form a framework for development. This is known as the Local Development Framework (LDF) and will help in the delivery of the strategic priorities of Liverpool First, the Community Strategy.
The Government's Planning Portal will help you to find out more about the planning system in England.
Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about the new planning system.
What is the Liverpool Local Development Framework?
The Local Development Famework (LDF) replaces the current Unitary Development Plan (UDP). It contains a number of Local Development Documents, of which there are two types; Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
What does the LDF aim to do?
- Guide new development to appropriate locations, while protecting Liverpool's natural environment and built heritage
- Provide for the needs of the community as set out in 'Liverpool First' by continually involving the public at all stages of the LDF.
- Provide developers with guidance and requirements for submitting planning applications
The LDF takes account of National Planning Policy and the Regional Spatial Strategy, as well as important local strategies; plans and projects.
What is a Sustainability Appraisal?
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 states that a Sustainability Appraisal is carried out during the production of all Local Development Documents (LDDs). Sustainability Appraisal also includes the needs of the EU Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
While Sustainability Appraisals are separate from the plan-making process, they affect whether the plan meets the requirements of national and regional planning policy. An account of the process must be provided, along with recommendations, in a Sustainability Appraisal Report. This is put to the public with the draft plan.
Sustainability Appraisals look at possible social, economic and environmental effects of plans. This is done by first looking at 'sustainability objectives'. For each of these, the plan is given a score for how well it does this. A screening process is used to say whether the plan document will have any effects on the environment. If it is thought that there will not be any effects, the Sustainability Appraisal will not need to include a full report, but will still look at environmental issues.
SEA will be carried out for all Development Plan Documents and depending on the outcome, some Supplementary Planning Documents. Information about whether an SEA is or is not required will be included as part of the plan documentation. It will be available in paper copy and on this website.
What is in the plan will not have been decided upon before the appraisal; instead, there will be a number of choices for the plan. The option which is 'most sustainable' will then be put forward to be included in the plan with a range other recommendations. This will be in a Sustainability Appraisal Report.
What is a Development Plan Document (DPD)?
These are the main parts of the Local Development Framework. They set out either citywide or area-based development principles. These documents can take up to three years to produce and are assessed at an inquiry by a Planning Inspector.
The Core Strategy is the main DPD in the Local Development Framework. It will have a spatial plan; a set of objectives and a series of policies for Liverpool. These will work with strategies and documents.
Other DPDs will be introduced over time. These will each set out more detailed policies and proposals for specific types of development (e.g. housing). The Local Development Scheme (LDS) contains a timetable for the production of DPDs.
What is a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)?
An SPD gives more detailed planning guidance. This shows how statutory Development Plan Documents will apply to main topics or locations. They take around one year to produce and have less weight than DPDs. This is because they are not examined by a Planning Inspector.
How are DPDs and SPDs produced?
Under the new planning system, a set procedure must be followed when putting together the Local Development Framework.
The way in which DPDs and SPDs are produced is similar. SPDs need one public consultation and DPDs need three. Two are formal and one is informal. They must be independently examined before they are adopted. As a result DPDs take around three years to produce (SPDs take one year).
The diagrams below show what tasks must be carried out during each stage of DPDs and SPDs. The coloured boxes show stages of production that include a public consultation.
What is the production process for DPDs?
What is the production process for SPDs?
How can I get involved?
The new planning system may seem confusing, but it does make sure that there are more chances for people to have a say.
Liverpool City Council wants as many people as possible to get involved in producing the Local Development Framework (LDF). In particular local communities are asked to shape the content of DPDs and SPDS, which together make up the LDF.
The best way to keep up-to-date with new and changing planning policy is to look at these web pages on a regularly basis. The Adopted documents webpage contains a list of all Local Development Documents which together form the LDF. The Work in progress webpages show DPDs and SPDs currently in production. On each, you can see where they are up to.
All public consultation exercises are advertised in the local press; with mail shots; in libraries and other Liverpool City Council buildings.
You can see our Statement of Community Involvement for more information.
If you would like to talk to a Planning Officer about any DPDs or SPDs that are being put together, or to find out details of consultation, please contact the Development Plans team by telephoning us on 0151 233 3021, or emailing us at development.plans@liverpool.gov.uk development.plans@liverpool.gov.uk