Statutory development plans

It involves protecting the best, improving the worst, and aiming positively to ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations.
 
Development plans focus on land use development and protection set within the context of wider social, economic and environmental trends and considerations. Reflecting national and regional planning policies, development plans make strategic provision for the long-term use of land and buildings, providing a framework for local decision making and the reconciliation of competing development and conservation interests.

They aim to ensure that land use changes proceed coherently, efficiently, and with maximum community benefit. Development Plans indicate clearly how local residents, landowners, and other interested parties might be affected by land use change. They are subject to regular periods of intensive public consultation, involvement and negotiation.

Decisions on planning applications are made in accordance with the adopted Development Plan unless other material considerations, relating to land use development, indicate otherwise.

The Borough Council has responsibility for producing a local plan, for Stevenage this is currently the Stevenage District Plan Second Review. Since 2004 the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act requires the local plan to be replaced with a local development framework (LDF). The Stevenage LDF is currently being developed, to view it’s progress see the link below.

Hertfordshire County Council are responsible for producing plans relating to minerals and waste for the whole of Hertfordshire.

The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) are the regional planning body and are responsible for the preparation and implementation of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), known in this region as the East of England Plan, and this plan was adopted in May 2008.

Links

• Stevenage District Plan Second Review
• Local Development Framework
• Mineral Planning
• Waste Planning
• East of England Plan