The local planning system - Local Development Framework (LDF)

Update 3 March 2008

This is to notify you of the publication of a consultation document on the Cherwell Local Development Framework, entitled ‘Supplemental Consultation on Site Allocations Issues and Options: New and Amended Sites’.

Comments are invited on this document between 25 February and 7 April 2008.

What is the ‘Supplemental Consultation on Site Allocations Issues and Options’ document?
Site allocations will allocate land for development needs to 2026 relating to housing, employment, town centres, open spaces and recreation and other land uses across the Cherwell District, as well as identifying areas in need of comprehensive development.

As many sites as possible are being suggested early in the plan process to generate debate. No proposals are being put forward by the Council at this stage and the sites have been suggested for discussion purposes only. This document contains details of new sites that have been suggested to the Council, or amendments suggested to sites that have already been consulted upon.

Where can I view and comment on the document?
A copy of the document has been sent to each Parish Council within the Cherwell district for public viewing. Copies of the document will also be available to view at the following locations from 25 February to 7 April 2008:

Cherwell District Council Offices, Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA
Open: Monday to Thursday 8.40am - 5.15pm, Friday 8.40am - 4.20pm

Banbury Library, Marlborough Road, Banbury, OX16 5DB
Open: Monday 9am - 1pm, Tuesday 9am - 7pm, Wednesday 9am - 8pm, Thurs and Friday 9am - 7pm, Saturday 9am - 4.30pm

Neithrop Library, Community Centre, Woodgreen Avenue, Banbury, OX16 OAT
Open: Monday 10am - 7pm, Wednesday 2pm - 5pm, Thursday 10am - 1pm, Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 9.30am - 1pm

Bicester Town Council, The Garth, Launton Road, Bicester, OX26 6PS
Open: Monday - Thursday 9am - 5pm, Friday 9am - 4pm

Bicester Library, Old Place Yard, Bicester, OX26 6AU
Open: Monday 9.30 am - 7pm, Tuesday 9.30-5pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am - 7pm, Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 4.30pm

Cherwell District Council Area Office, Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 1AB
Open: Monday and Wednesday 8.45am - 1pm, 2pm - 4.45pm, Friday 8.45am - 1pm, 2pm - 4.00pm

Kidlington Library, Ron Groves House, 23 Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 2BP
Open: Monday 9.30am - 5pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 7pm, Wednesday 9.30am - 1pm, Thursday 9.30am -5pm, Friday 9.30am - 7pm, Saturday 9.00am - 4.30pm

The document will be available to view and make comments online from 25th February 2007, the Council wishes to encourage the use of the online response facility as a means of more effective and efficient community engagement. Further details about how to make comments are contained in Chapter 2 of the document.

The online response facility;
www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk/planning/supplementalsites.cfm

Next Steps
The Council is not inviting further sites to be submitted in response to this document. This is intended to be the last in a series of Issues and Options papers dealing with site allocations in Cherwell (previous Issues and Options papers are still available to view online at http://www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk/planning/LDF.cfm The next stage relating to site allocations will be the publication of Preferred Options for the Cherwell Core Strategy and Delivery Development Plan Documents in September/ October 2008; you will receive further notification nearer that time.

Initial outline of the LDF

The Local Development Framework is the spatial planning strategy introduced in England and Wales by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. In England maintaining the framework is the responsibility of District Councils and Unitary Authorities.

Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Development Frameworks commonly abbreviated as PPS 12, (see http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/147429

to download a copy and http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/147432

for the guidance note) sets out the Government's policy on the preparation of Local Development Documents which will comprise LDF. The current version was introduced in September 2004.

The LDF replaces the previous system of county level Structure Plans and district level Local Plans, and Unitary Development Plans for Unitary authorities.

The LDF system is intended to improve this situation by replacing the old plans with a new portfolio of documents (Local Development Documents) that can be tailored to suit the different needs of a particular area and can be easily updated.

Cherwell District Council prepared an initial statement about their plans which is at

http://www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk/planning/LDF.cfm

their latest statement about this is at

http://www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk/planning/siteallocationssouth.cfm

and to view a list of documents produced and download them go to

http://consultation.limehouse.co.uk/index.do?identifier=cherwell

If you want to be kept up to date automatically by email and be able to register comments on line go to

http://consultation.limehouse.co.uk/register.do?identifier=cherwell&action=registrationForm