SSR NEWS
Development Plan Documents v MASTERPLANS
Way back when, the planning process was re-shuffled and a two-tier slim-line planning system was introduced. Consisting of a suite of documents, the new Local Development Frameworks (LDF’s) were pitched as the answer to all local authority planners prayers – quicker to produce and easier to review. However, a few years on and most local authorities are still relying on Saved Policies to determine applications and manage the growth agenda set down by the Government.
South Northamptonshire Council, who fall under the umbrella of the newly formed West Northamptonshire Development Company (WNDC) and the Joint Planning Unit (WNJPU), with Northampton Borough and Daventry District Councils, is in such a position. The Joint Core Spatial Strategy (CSS) is still at the early stages of production, and having consulted upon the Issues and Options during October 2007, the JPU are yet to determine when the submission document will be published – the timetable is still under review !!
For South Northants Council, the lack of policy direction is causing difficulties. The joint CSS Issues and Options identified the potential for substantial growth within Towcester, one of the districts largest towns, of up to 4,000 new homes, and subsequently an application has been submitted for 3,000 dwellings to the south east of the town.
The Council’s original proposal was to produce a Development Plan Document (DPD) for Towcester which would include site-specific allocations, urban extensions and the line and phasing of the A5 Towcester Bypass. It was considered that by October 2008 the Council would be undertaking consultation on the Preferred Options for the DPD however, this is not the case.
Following the slow progress of the CSS, the Council determined that the process of producing the DPD was not only lengthy but also costly, and has therefore now abandoned its production and that of the accompanying Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Moat Lane area of the town, in favour of a Masterplan approach as it will be much cheaper and less time consuming to produce – a couple of months rather than a couple of years !!
The position that the Council has found itself in is not uncommon – many who started out with good intentions of producing the suite of documents are now finding that the production of the documents is as cumbersome as its predecessor. However, effectively abandoning the LDF process in favour of Masterplans is another method of bypassing the plan production system which was put in place to ensure development plans were robust and accountable having undergone public consultation and Examination. I have no doubt the consultants appointed to produce the Masterplan will consult the residents of Towcester and the statutory consultees at some point during its production, but that does not compare to the public examination DPD’s undergo in order to be found sound.
For South Northants Council, the decision to produce a Masterplan was necessary in order to assess the application that has been submitted as there is currently no up to date detailed policy framework.
It seems that the further through the LDF process local authority’s progress, the more they are taking of short cuts to avoid the production of DPD’s. It does beg the question though of what will happen to the planning process and the sustainability of growth and development proposals if Masterplans become the new DPD’s but without the rigorous Examination and accountability process.
Lynsey Hillman-Gamble
