Planning Policy Monthly Update (July 2010)

Please note that we can only be responsible for our own programmes. Information from other organisations is the latest and most up to date given to us.

National News

In May the Queen's Speech to Parliament included the Decentralisation and Localism Bill, which intends to 'devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions.' One of the elements of this Bill is the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies.

The new Government intends to introduce a new system of Local Plans. At this stage the details of the new system are yet to be developed. However a presentation was given to the Parish Forum in June outlining what is known so far of the Governments ideas for changing the planning system.

Until the legislation has been through parliament the existing development plan system remains as the legal basis for planning.

East of England Regional Plan News

Revocation of the East of England Plan

On 6 July 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government Eric Pickles announced the revocation of all Regional Strategies with immediate effect. Therefore in practical terms, the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the East of England no longer exists and does not form part of the development plan. The strategic planning policy framework is now provided by the Structure Plan 2003 'Saved' Policies and the South Cambridgeshire Core Strategy.

For more information (including a copy of the letter sent to local planning authorities) visit: Letter to Chief Planning Officers - Revocation of Regional Strategies.

South Cambridgeshire News

Implications of the new system to South Cambridgeshire

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) which support existing policies will continue to be prepared and are likely to be assimilated with the new system. Similarly Development Plan Documents (DPDs) which cover matters which will need to be addressed under the new system will proceed but are likely to be completed under the new system and therefore to revised timetables. The timetables for the production of the DPDs in the Local Development Scheme (LDS) will need to be reviewed. At present a live scheme indicating updates to the programme has been placed on the Local Development Scheme webpage. This will be updated when we have more detailed information on the new system.

For specific information on our various DPDs and SPDs, visit the Local Development Framework webpages or the LDF News webpage.

Cambridgeshire News

Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework

According to the timetable set out in their Local Development Scheme the County intend to submit the Minerals and Waste Development Plan to the Secretary of State in July 2010. This is likely to set in motion the arrangements for two Public Examinations into the Plan. The Plan is expected to be completed by 2012.

Information on the Minerals and Waste LDF is available on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste LDF (This link will open in a new window) webpage.

Local Transport Plan Consultation - LTP3

The Local Transport Plan (LTP) gives direction for transport improvement planning in the county. It sets out transport problems and opportunities and how the County Council will address them. The current second version of the LTP runs until March 2011, so the County Council is now developing LTP3. It covers the whole of Cambridgeshire with strategies focusing on key transport corridors, urban areas and their hinterlands and rural areas.

The County Council are currently carrying out a countywide public and stakeholder consultation, which has had its end date extended, to give further opportunity to comment following concerns over leaflet delivery to Cambridgeshire households.

The new consultation deadline is 30 July 2010.

Details of the extension of the consultation are published on the County's Local Transport Plan (This link will open in a new window) webpage.