Legislation introduced in September 2004 (Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act) introduced Local Development Frameworks as a way of streamlining the Local Planning process and promote a pro-active positive approach to managing development. The LDF is made up of a number of documents listed in the Council’s revised Local Development Scheme, approved at Cabinet on 11th June 2007, and will be prepared in accordance with the timetable set out in that document. These documents are:-

• Statement of Community Involvement (adopted September 2007)
• Core Strategy
• Housing, Employment and Site Allocations
• Generic Development Control Policies
• Burton Town Centre Area Action Plan
• Inner Burton Area Action Plan
• Re-use of Redundant Rural Buildings Supplementary Planning Guidance
• Design Guide Supplementary Planning Guidance

Consultation for the Issues and Options stage of the Core Strategy and the Burton upon Trent Town Centre Area Action Plan has taken place as part of a period of continuous involvement. The Council consulted those on its consultee database and held a number of exhibitions throughout the Borough. The Council has also prepared an Issues and Options Paper for the Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document for comment during April, May and June 2008. These documents and questionnaires are available to view below.

Another feature of the new Act is the production of an Annual Monitoring Report, the first of which was prepared in December 2005. Please click on the links to the right to view these documents.

To view our consultation documents please click here.

In December 2008 Cabinet agreed a revision subject to further discussion with and ratification by the Government Office of the West Midlands.  As a result of these discussions the DPD for a Community Infrastructure Levy has been deferred as Government guidance has been delayed. Secondly, the programme for hearings on the Core Strategy and Area Action Plan for Burton Town Centre has been staggered to meet the requirements of the Planning Inspectorate. Confirmation of a revised LDS was received on 11^th May 2009 from the Government Office of the West Midlands.

The revised LDS (May 2009) is available here. This was enacted by the Council on 15^th May 2009.

However, further discussions are currently being held to reconsider this programme in light of the review of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy, the awaited Panel Report and Government response which is anticipated before the end of 2009. Further technical work is also being prepared to support strategic options.

Please contact the Planning Policy Team for any further updates.