2 Implementation of the Local Development Scheme

Local Development Scheme milestones

2.1 For the year ending March 2007 there were ‘milestones’ in Wigan's second Local Development Scheme (March 2006) for the preparation of 11 different local development documents.  Of these 11 documents, two were development plan documents; 8 were supplementary planning documents and the final document was the statement of community involvement.   One other development plan document was programmed to commence after March 2007.

2.2 Milestones and other details on a further development plan document were added to the Local Development Scheme in July 2006.

Development plan documents

2.3 The two development plan documents in the March 2006 Local Development Scheme with programmed milestones in the year ending March 2007 were the Core Strategy and the Allocations and Infrastructure Development Plan Document.  The development plan document that was programmed later was an Area Action Plan for Wigan Central.  The development plan document that was added to the Local Development Scheme in July 2006 was the Greater Manchester Joint Waste Development Plan Document.

The Core Strategy

2.4 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this development plan document was:

2.5 Only the first of these ‘milestones’ was in the year ending March 2007.  Preparation of the Core Strategy commenced in October 2006 in line with this milestone.  An issues survey was circulated, the Citizens Panel was consulted and a feature article appeared in the Council’s magazine ‘Borough Life’.  A review of evidence was also commenced and the need for bespoke studies assessed, with a number commencing before the end of March 2007.  The revised Local Development Scheme (February 2007) includes new milestones for all subsequent stages leading to adoption in July 2010.

The Wigan Allocations and Infrastructure Development Plan Document

2.6 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this development plan document was:

2.7 Only the first of these ‘milestones’ was in the year ending March 2007.  Preparation of the Allocations and Infrastructure Plan commenced in October 2006 in line with this milestone, on the same basis as for the Core Strategy.  The revised Local Development Scheme (February 2007) includes new milestones for all subsequent stages leading to adoption in November 2010. 

Wigan Central Area Action Plan

2.8 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this development plan document was:

2.9 None of these ‘milestone’ fell in the year ending March 2007.  When the local development scheme was revised in February 2007, it was agreed to incorporate the work on Wigan Central in the Allocations and Infrastructure Development Plan Document, so it was not re-programmed. 

The Greater Manchester Joint Waste Development Plan Document

2.10 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this development plan document was:

2.11 Work on the joint plan is being undertaken on behalf of the Council and the other 9 councils in Greater Manchester by the Greater Manchester Geological Unit.  Only the first of the milestones was in the year ending March 2007.  Preparation commenced in line with this milestone.  The revised Local Development Scheme (February 2007) includes new milestones for all subsequent stages leading to adoption in December 2010. 

Supplementary planning documents

2.12 These were:

• Provision of open space in new housing development - adoptions and financial contributions from developers
• Design Guide for Residential Development
• Re-use of Employment Land and Buildings for non-employment uses
• Affordable Housing Provision in New Residential Developments
• Access for All
• Development and Protected Species
• Travel Plans
• Development and Air Quality

Provision of open space in new housing development, adoptions and financial contributions from developers Supplementary Planning Document

2.13 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.14 Only the final milestone fell within the year ending March 2007.  The document was adopted on 31 October 2005 but could not come into operation until the Replacement Unitary Development Plan was itself adopted, ultimately on 26 April 2006.  Therefore, this milestone was met. 

Design Guide for Residential Developments

2.15 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.16 Only the final two milestones fell in the year to March 2007.  However the previous milestone for public participation on revised draft did slip into this year, beginning on 20 March and concluding on 18 April, slightly later than programmed but commencing within the timeframe of the milestone.  The document was adopted on 12 July 2006 in line with the milestone.

Re-use of Employment Land and Buildings for non-employment uses Supplementary Planning Document

2.17 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.18 Only the final milestone fell within the year ending March 2007.  The document was adopted on 16 February 2006 but could not come into operation until the Replacement Unitary Development Plan was itself adopted, ultimately on 26 April 2006.  Therefore, this milestone was met. 

Affordable Housing Provision in New Residential Development Supplementary Planning Document

2.19 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.20 Only the final milestone fell within the year ending March 2007.  The document was adopted on 16 February 2006 but could not come into operation until the Replacement Unitary Development Plan was itself adopted, ultimately on 26 April 2006.  Therefore, this milestone was met.

Access for All Supplementary Planning Document

2.21 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.22 All but the first of these milestones were in the year ending March 2007.  Preparation of the draft document was concluded by approval of the draft by Council on 23 April 2006, in line with the milestone.  The formal public participation period ran from 16 May to 27 June.  It was adopted on 21 September.  Therefore, all of the milestones were met.

Development and Protected Species Supplementary Planning Document

2.23 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.24 All but the last of these milestones were in the year ending March 2007.  Preparation of this document commenced in June 2006 in line with the milestones.  However, it was not completed in line with the December 2006 milestone.  Instead preparation was concluded with Cabinet approval of the draft document on 25 January 2007.  As such the public participation on the draft documents slipped by one month from January-February to 16 February – 30 March.  Consideration of representations will commence in March in line with the milestone.  The documents will be adopted in June 2007 in line with the revised Local Development Scheme (February 2007) milestone.

Travel Plans Supplementary Planning Document

2.25 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.26 All but the last of these milestones were in the year ending March 2007.  Preparation of this document commenced in June 2006 in line with the milestones.  However, it was not completed in line with the December 2006 milestone.  Instead preparation was concluded with Cabinet approval of the draft document on 25 January 2007.  As such the public participation on the draft documents slipped by one month from January-February to 16 February – 30 March.  Consideration of representations will commence in March in line with the milestone.  The documents will be adopted in June 2007 in line with the revised Local Development Scheme (February 2007) milestone.

Development and Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document

2.27 The Local Development Scheme timetable for this supplementary planning document was:

2.28 All but the last of these milestones were in the year ending March 2007.  Preparation of this document also commenced in June 2006 in line with the milestone.  However, it was not completed in line with the December 2006 milestone.  Instead it was concluded with Cabinet approval of the draft document on 29 March 2007.  As such the public participation on the draft document did not take place in line with the February-March milestone.  The milestone in the revised Local Development Scheme (February 2007) for public participation on the draft document is May-June 2007, with the final milestone for adoption of the document in September 2007.

Statement of community involvement

2.29 The timetable in the Local Development Scheme for preparation of the Statement of Community Involvement was:

2.30 Only the final milestone for adoption was in the year ending March 2007.  When the Local Development Scheme was in draft form the milestone was July 2006 (and remained so in our service plan).  This was to take into account the fact that it needed to be adopted by full council for which there was no meeting in June.  It was revised without reference to the need for adoption by full council, on the advice of Government Office that adoption should immediately follow on from receipt of the Inspector’s Report.  

2.31 We received the Inspector’s Report on 8 June.  The statement was adopted on 12 July which was the first available Council meeting following receipt of the Inspector’s Report.