skip to content

Local Development Framework

This section is intended to help people looking for information about the council's Local Development Framework.

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is intended to better engage the community and reflect a broader range of strategies and plans published by other agencies not traditionally involved in planning. It goes beyond traditional land use planning, and focuses on an area based ‘spatial planning’ approach.     

The LDF is a folder of documents called Local Development Documents (LDDs). Documents with development plan status will be known as Development Plan Documents (DPDs). Other guidance will be known as Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).

Development Plan Documents, are subject to Independent Examination before they can be adopted, to ensure they are sound documents in both their content and the way they are produced and are founded on a robust evidence base. 

All Local Development Documents are required to be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to ensure that they contribute to achieving sustainable development.

Recent changes to the planning system

Following a judgement by the High Court, the Secretary of State's decision to revoke Regional Strategies has been reversed, and the South East Plan has been reinstated. The Council will therefore - for the time being - continue to take into consideration policies in the South East Plan. A letter from the Chief Planner at the Department of Communities and Local Government reiterates the Government's intention to formally abolish Regional Strategies, and the Localism Act (2011) sets the legal framework by which this will be done.

The Government have also carried out, and consulted upon, an Environmental Assessment of the revocation of the South East Plan. Further information is awaited from Government as to when the South East Plan will finally be revoked.

LDF documents

Development Plan Documents (DPDs)

Background information and supplementary documents

LDF newsletters

LDF newsletters provide information on the progress of the LDF. The February 2011 Planning for the Future newsletter is available below.

Previous Planning for the Future newsletters are also available.   

Links to further information

Contact

If you require any further information, please contact the Policy Team on 01737 276000 or email LDF@reigate-banstead.gov.uk        

Last updated : 24/01/2012

Footer links