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Adopted Development Plan FAQs

Below are our most frequently asked questions and answers about the Development Plan, Local Development Framework and Local Plan (also sometimes known as 'Local Development Plan').

If you need more information or have a different question to ask, please get in touch using the contact details at the bottom of the page.

The Local Plan (sometimes referred to as 'The Local Development Plan') is a set of policies and land allocations that will guide the future of our district up to 2031.

Once adopted, all planning applications will be assessed against the policies in the Local Plan.

Planning policies and proposals that guide the development and use of land in the district are set out in the Development Plan.

All planning applications are assessed against the planning policies included in the Development Plan.

The Development Plan is a set of documents, and consists of documents produced us and Cambridgeshire County Council.

Further detailed information is provided on Adopted Development Plan - Overview.

The Local Development Framework (LDF) sets out the planning policies that provide a framework to guide new development in the district.

All planning applications are assessed against the planning policies included in the LDF.

A Development Plan Document (DPD) sets out planning policies for the district on a wide range of topics and for site specific proposals such as housing, employment and open space allocations.

DPDs form part of the Local Development Framework, and also form part of the adopted development plan.

The Area Action Plan (AAP) documents set out detailed planning policies for a specific site or area and form part of the Local Development Framework.

AAPs form part of the adopted development plan.

To see what AAPs are currently being prepared, please visit: What new Area Action Plans are being prepared?

Supplementary Planning Documents provide further detailed guidance on specific topics or sites. SPDs expand upon policy or provide further detail to policies in adopted development plan documents.

SPDs form part of the Local Development Framework, but do not form part of the adopted development plan.

To see the complete list of SPDs adopted by us, please visit the Adopted Supplementary Planning Documents page.

To see what SPDs are currently being prepared, please visit the What new Supplementary Planning Documents are being prepared? page.

All Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) are produced by completing the following stages:

  1. Evidence gathering and preparation of draft SPD and draft Sustainability Appraisal
  2. Public consultation (6 weeks) on the draft SPD and draft Sustainability Appraisal
  3. Consideration of comments received and finalise the SPD and Sustainability Appraisal
  4. Adoption of SPD

The Local Development Scheme sets out what planning policy documents we intend to produce and the timetables for their preparation.

The Adopted Proposals Map shows the boundaries of planning policies contained in the adopted development plan that have spatial implications, such as housing, employment and open space allocations, and village development frameworks.

Adopted Proposals Map

The Statement of Community Involvement provides information on how we will involve the community and other stakeholders in the planning process.

The Annual Monitoring Report document is updated annually and:

  • assesses the performance of individual planning policies included in the adopted Local Development Framework or Local Plan
  • assesses our progress in producing its documents set out in the Local Development Scheme
  • it gives details of what action the council has taken relating to the Duty to Co-operate and
  • it gives details of any neighbourhood plans or neighbourhood development orders that have been made.

To see the latest AMR, please visit our Annual Monitoring Report page.

Our five year housing land supply position is published in the Annual Monitoring Report.