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The Process

THE LDP PROCESS

The LDP will comprise of two stages:

  • A Plan Strategy – which will set out this Council’s objectives in relation to the development and use of land in the our District and the strategic policies for the implementation of those objectives and other relevant matters; and
     
  • A Local Policies Plan – which must be prepared after the Plan Strategy has been adopted and will set out this Council’s local policies consistent with the Plan Strategy.

Each stage will be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal, including Strategic Environmental Assessment and other associated relevant assessments.  Similarly each stage will be adopted having undergone an Independent Examination. 

The LDP Process

HOW AND WHEN YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF YOUR LDP:

You can get involved at the following stages:

  • Preferred Options Paper - The POP is a public consultation document which will set out the most significant planning issues currently affecting our District, as well as those likely to become relevant in the future. It will include the Council’s preferred options to address them;
  • Draft Plan Strategy (PS) - The draft PS is a public consultation document which will set out in draft terms the proposed broad aims, objectives and the overall future growth strategy and associated generic planning policies applicable across the District;
  • Public Inspection of Representations for the draft PS;
  • Independent Examination (PS) - An IE will be held to determine the soundness of the draft PS, taking into account a consideration of the representations and counter representations received during the draft PS consultation period. After the IE, an Advisory Report of its findings will be issued to Central Government;
  • Draft Local Policies Plan (LPP) - The LPP is the second plan document within the LDP process. The draft LPP is a public consultation document and will contain Council’s detailed land use proposals for the District. The land use zonings will articulate the vision, objectives, spatial strategy and strategic policies contained within the PS;
  • Public Inspection of Representations for the draft LPP;
  • Independent Examination (LPP) - An IE will be held to determine the soundness of the draft Local Policies Plan, taking into account any representations or counter representations. Following the IE, an Advisory Report of its findings will be issued to Central Government.

The plan is also accompanied by a Sustainability Assessment process and an Equality Impact Assessment. Similar opportunities exist to get involved in these processes.  An integral part of the SA process will be the requirement on the Council to undertake a screening to determine if the LDP requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) – which will in turn examine purely the environmental effects of the LDP proposals.

Habitats Regulation screening will also be required to determine if a Habitats Regulation Assessment is required for the LDP. This will consider the potential impact of LDP policies and proposals on European nature conservation sites.

An Equality Impact Screening will be required to assess if the LDP is likely to have an impact on different sections of the community.  If so, an Equality Impact Assessment will be undertaken in relation to the LDP.

We will inform you of your opportunities to get involved in all of these stages via our Council LDP website, local press and social media.

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