Development Plan Documents

The three development plan documents are:

• The Core Strategy
• An Allocations and Infrastructure Development Plan Document
• A Greater Manchester Joint Waste Development Plan

We are preparing the Greater Manchester Joint Waste Development Plan Document with the other nine district councils in Greater Manchester

The process for preparing a development plan documents is:

1. Evidence gathering and establishing the baseline and scope for the sustainability appraisal
2. Prepare ‘issues’ and alternative ‘options’ for addressing those issues, informed by the sustainability appraisal, with ongoing ‘community engagement’
3. Public participation on preferred options and the sustainability report (6 weeks statutory period)
4. Consider representations and prepare draft ‘plan’
5. Submit draft plan to the Secretary of State
6. Public participation on draft plan submitted to the Secretary of State
7. Independent pre-examination meeting held by the Planning Inspectorate
8. Independent examination-in-public
9. Receipt of binding Inspctor’s report
10. Adoption and monitoring of plan.

At the Examination-in-Public stage the independent inspector has to consider whether the development plan document is ‘sound’. There are nine tests of soundness as set out in the government’s Planning Policy Statement 12 (external link).

These are:

Procedural

1. it has been prepared in accordance with the local development scheme;
2. it has been prepared in compliance with the statement of community involvement, or with the minimum requirements set out in the Regulations 47 where no statement of community involvement exists;
3. the plan and its policies have been subjected to sustainability appraisal;

Conformity

4. it is a spatial plan which is consistent with national planning policy and in general conformity with the regional spatial strategy for the region or, in London, the spatial development strategy and it has properly had regard to any other relevant plans, policies and strategies relating to the area or to adjoining areas;
5. it has had regard to the authority's community strategy;

Coherence, consistency and effectiveness

6. the strategies/policies/allocations in the plan are coherent and consistent within and between development plan documents prepared by the authority and by neighbouring authorities, where cross boundary issues are relevant;
7. the strategies/policies/allocations represent the most appropriate in all the circumstances, having considered the relevant alternatives, and they are founded on a robust and credible evidence base;
8. there are clear mechanisms for implementation and monitoring; and
9. the plan is reasonably flexible to enable it to deal with changing circumstances.

The government has prepared detailed guidance on the preparation of sustainability appraisals incorporating strategic environmental assessment.

Contact Details