LDP Process

The Local Development Plan process has several stages. The entire process usually takes several years. There are opportunities for input and comment at every stage. You can find out what stage your local planning authority is at on their website. Some planning authorities will add you to their email list to you up to date on their progress.

Before writing a new plan, the local planning authority will gather economic, social and environmental information to help identify local issues, known as gathering evidence or the evidence base. Although there is not formal consultation at this stage, you can help by providing information about wildlife to your local biological records centre or to the local planning authority.

The formal LDP process follows a cycle of six stages.

1. Delivery Agreement: this sets a timetable for the following stages and tells you how the Local Planning Authority will tell people about the LDP.2
2.  Preferred Strategy: this sets the high-level priorities for the area, such as where major developments will be. It includes the overall vision and objectives of the LDP and includes estimates of how much new development will be needed. A Candidate Sites Register, of potential development sites, will also be put forward at this stage. This stage may be reduced or omitted when Strategic Development Plans are in place.
3. Deposit Plan: this is a full draft of the development plan, including local polices and sites allocated for development. It usually includes a set of maps showing both protected areas (constraints) and areas for development (proposals). The plan will also include a monitoring framework which will be used to assess the effectiveness of the plan.
4. Public Examination: An inspector appointed by the Welsh Government will carry out an independent examination of the plan. This includes public hearings, where points of contention can be discussed.
5. Inspector’s Report and Adoption of the LDP: The Local Planning Authority must make any changes in the inspector’s report. Once the plan is adopted, it becomes local policy and is used to decide planning applications.
6. Monitoring and review: The Local Planning Authority must produce a monitoring report every year showing how the plan is meeting its aims. Every four years, the LPA must carry out a full review, although this can be triggered earlier. The review is sent to the Welsh Government, and then the cycle starts again.

Although you can comment on an LDP at every stage, the most important stages for comment are the Preferred Strategy, The Candidate Sites Register and the Deposit Plan. If there are significant issues, you may wish to speak at the Public Examination as well.

A Sustainability Appraisal, Strategic Environmental Assessment (often called SA/SEA), and Habitat Regulations Assessment process will also take place alongside the LDP process.