Planning Inspectorate Newsletter - Issue 4
The Planning Inspectorate Wales’ ‘Guide to the Examination of Local Development Plans’
October 2006 has seen the launch of the Planning Inspectorate Wales’ ‘Guide to the Examination of Local Development Plans’.
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced great changes in the way development plans will be produced. It also created different development plan systems in Wales and England.
Although both systems now look to evaluate the overall ‘soundness’ of a plan as opposed to individual objections, there are several differences between the ways in which ‘soundness’ will be tested.
There are many other differences throughout the process and it was these differences in both procedures and examination that prompted PINS Wales to produce a separate guide to the Local Development Plan (LDP) system in Wales.
In May 2005, a consultation draft of this new guidance was sent to all the major stakeholders in the new LDP process, who were asked to give their comments and opinions. Once all responses to the consultation were received, they were analysed and much time was spent producing an updated version of the guidance.
In August 2006, the guidance was submitted to and approved by Carwyn Jones, Minister for Environment, Planning and the Countryside.
The Minister’s foreword says -
“ I am pleased to commend this Guide to all those who will be using and contributing to the new Local Development Plan system. It completes the set of tools, along with other Assembly documents, that will help implement the new system. These are vital to the step change in the culture and delivery of the planning system necessary to help achieve sustainable development in Wales.”
The completed Guide was sent to stakeholders and published on the PINS Wales website on 10th October 2006.
Copies and further information concerning the guidance can be obtained from the PINS Wales Development Plan team on 02920 823866 or are available on our website from the link below:
http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/cymru/wal/appeals/local_development_plans_e.htm
Chris Sweet
PINS Wales - Development Plans and Countryside Case Officer
