The Role of Local Development Frameworks in Influencing the Real Estate Development Process - Term Paper Example

THE ROLE OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS IN INFLUENCING THE REAL E DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Introduction This paper aims to discuss the role of Local Development Frameworks in influencing the real estate development process. There are indications that the local authorities are given more scope than they currently possess in order for development proposals to have merit-based decisions. The planning system is said to require great flexibility in terms of sustainable urban development and regeneration (Keeping and Shiers, 2004, p. 33). The value of the planning system and a plan-led system needs emphasis in order to generate good planning. This is often done through a system based on a simplified policy hierarchy, which includes a system that gives priority to higher-quality development. Structure plans, local plans, and unitary development plans are often replaced by local development frameworks prepared by district and unitary authorities (Carmona and Gallent, p. 32). The Local Development Framework is a separate but complimentary folder of planning documents (Kerrier, 2006). It sets out the social, economic, and environmental objectives for a specific area, drawing heavily on the community strategies, which local authorities and their partners have prepared. With land, the LDF sets out strategies for achieving these objectives. There are other related strategies, which the content of LDF takes into account, and it is through the strategies and spending program, which becomes an aspect of the vision and objectives of the LDF (ibid). The Local Development Framework The right amount of new development of the right type is set out by the Local Development Framework. Policies are laid down in order to set out the criteria that development proposals are assessed against. Developmental Management Policies are the policies included in the LDF in testing proposals that ensue through the planning application process. LDF provides a context on how development is seen to contribute to sustainable development within the surrounding area for everybody's benefit. Local Development Frameworks have a key facilitating role to play in making urban regeneration successful as partners with real estate developers. There are varieties of forms that partnership between developers and LDF can be undertaken, and the roles that LDF can take may vary (Keeping and Shiers, 2004, p. 33). Planning allocation is one area considered pertinent in urban regeneration and development potential and value greatly affects development land allocation. At this very early stage, a partnership between the LDF and real estate developers can be adopted while mutual benefits are laid down (Keeping and Shiers, 2004). In terms of real estate development process, it must be noted that the production of housing targets starts at the regional level, where policy guidance is produced by regional planning conferences along with the regional government offices. Public comment is gathered and an Examination in Public tests the guidance in which participants are invited to give comments on it in the presence of an independent Chair. With the regional bodies directing the process, it may be inferred that this system is less "top-down" and is certainly more inclusive. Regional assemblies link directly with the Local Development Frameworks, which are subsequently produced by local planning authorities (Ratcliffe, 2001, p. 536). It must also be considered that there are different systems of development control but a major theme runs through all these systems. Each of these systems attempts to find a balance between certainty and flexibility in decision-making. There is said to be a growing importance of pre-application discussions and a corresponding need to keep the planning policies based on LDF more up-to-date. Moreover, transaction costs of development control must be decreased and shifted to an earlier stage in the process (Buitelaar, 2007, p. 165). The Roles of Local Development Frameworks in the Real Estate Development Process Local Development Framework serves as a statement in delivering the long-term vision for a particular area in which real estate development exists. It also sets clear objectives in terms of the development and improvement of the physical environment of its area and provides a strategy for delivering the objectives and key diagram (Carmona and Gallent, 2003, p. 32). The framework likewise considers community involvement setting, which involves the community in significant developed control decisions. It also sets down criteria-based policies that shape development. Through the LDF, housing allocations are viewed as one that may be planned, monitored, and managed over many years. Regional assemblies take on these duties when they are created and assume planning responsibilities. When producing their local plans, individual districts need to conform to these targets (Ratcliffe, 2001, p. 536). Thus, it may be inferred that this aspect is an important role of the LDF in the real estate development process. The Local Development Framework is encouraged to allocate through site-by-site basis, and considers residential applications through policies. It must also be considered that some allowance must be made for windfall sites up to an area of one hectare, where sites may be unexpectedly available and can make an important contribution to housing land supply (Ratcliffe, 2001). This is how the LDF is viewed pertaining to real estate development process. It must likewise be emphasised that Local Development Frameworks are in synergy with planning, for which it plays a significant role in real estate development process. The places in which people live and work are shaped by a planning system, including real estate facilities. The Local Development Framework includes core strategy, which sets out the log-term spatial for the local authority area, alongside the objectives and strategic policies on how such vision may be delivered (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2005). Creating sustainable communities is a goal set by the planning stage through delivering homes, employment, and community facilities in an environment characteristic of safety and attractiveness. In this regard, a new planning system is introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Act of 2004, which necessitates all local authorities to produces a Local development Framework, which serves as a folder of planning documents replacing Local Plans (Kerrier, 2006). It may be inferred that the role of LDF in this respect and in relation to real estate development process is for the planning system to become clearer, quicker, and more accessible in enabling all aspects to become involved in the decision-making process. Since sustainable development, spatial planning approach, and community involvement are guiding principles of the new planning system for real estate development, these are likewise the embodiment of the local development frameworks when incorporated with real estate development process. A number of planning documents make up the Local Development Framework, called Local Development Documents (LDDs). These documents contain policies, strategies, and proposals, which set out the planning framework for a real estate facility. They include core strategy, area action plans, development control policies, proposal maps, supplementary planning documents, local development scheme, annual monitoring report, and sustainability appraisal report (Kerrier, 2006). It is clear that through these documents contained in the Local Development Framework, the real estate development process is aided comprehensively from the planning stage to evaluation stage alongside views of sustainability. Hence, the LDF serves as a unifying factor of all the stages, which a real estate development project must go through. Without the LDF comprehensively undertaking all these tasks, it may be inferred that the real estate development process might act and function separately from what the community and local authorities see development process must be. This is seen in an example wherein there is a requirement that the Local Development Framework must conform to the Regional Spatial Strategy, a document in which the planning framework for the South West region is set. The statutory Development plan for the area may be formed once the Local Development and the Regional Spatial Strategy are adopted. They replace the previous planning system of Local Authority Local Plans. The framework, as well as the Core Strategy and Site Specific Area Based Allocations development plan documents, is prepared by the Council with an aim of reflecting the needs and requirements of the local community. It is significant to mention that the Local Development Framework contributes to the delivery of the issues and actions identified in a real estate development facility, certainly involving the use and development of land, which is pointed in this paper as another aspect of its role. The LDF likewise possesses links with other strategies and plans and aims to deliver elements of real estate development process' wider vision and priorities initially set out in its strategy framework. The role of the LDF is so vast in that it needs to be informed about the aims of real estate development projects to support community projects, regeneration activities, and heritage initiatives (Kerrier, 2006). Another aspect of the Local Development Framework in terms of its role in the real estate development process is community involvement, which is embodied in the planning system it initiates. Such involvement tends to change the way people think and feel about planning through the promotion of a more positive and sustainable approach. Effective consultation and community involvement is central to community involvement. This allows individuals to better understand community needs and expectations, enabling a better-informed decision-making process. It likewise creates a sense of community ownership and involvement in planning decisions involving real estate development process. Community involvement in the Local Development Framework includes methods of involvement that will be used in encouraging the community around a real estate development facility to become involved in shaping the future of people therein. Opportunities for public involvement at different stages are present and make up the Local Development Framework of the real estate development process. The comments and views on the early stages of public involvement are incorporated to the relevant planning document of a real estate project where necessary. Community strategy is in fact required to local authorities by the Local Government Act 2000 to be prepared, aiming to improve the social, environmental, and economic well being of communities. Authorities are able to coordinate the actions of local public, private, voluntary and community sectors through the community strategy (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2005). When the planning gain becomes a matter of negotiation, that primarily involves two parties - the local authority and the real estate developer - there is an anticipation of greater community involvement on the part of the Local Development Framework. This is seen in the Planning Policy Statement 2 of the Government's policy on the preparing of local development documents comprising the Local Development Framework, which states the creation of strong, safe. Ad prosperous communities through Local Spatial Planning (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2005). Conclusion The Local Development Framework contributes to the establishment of real estate development process in a particular target area. This paper points out different roles undertaken by the LDF in this regard. One of this is setting the required policy and strategy in the development process, and serving as a catalyst in community involvement. Planning allocation is one area in which the LDF greatly affects development land allocation, in which partnership between the LDF and real estate developers is adopted while setting down mutual benefits. The LDF also functions as a statement and an objective-setter that guides real estate developers in delivering the long-term vision for a particular area. Through the guidelines provided by the LDF, housing allocations become easy to plan, monitor, and manage. Lastly, community involvement is embodied in the Local Development Framework in which the community is encouraged around a real estate development process, geared towards implementing policies on sustainable development. References Buitelaar, E. (2007) The cost of land use decisions: applying transaction cost economics t planning and development, Blackwell Publishing. Carmona, M. and Gallent, N. (2003) Delivering new homes: processes, planners, and providers, Routledge. Keeping, M. and Shiers, D. (2004) Sustainable property development: a guide to real estate and the environment, Blackwell Science Ltd. Kerrier (2006) Kerrier local development framework, Kerrier Statement of Community Involvement, http://www.kerrier.gov.uk/media/adobe/d/e/SCI_Submission_draft.pdf, Date Accessed 2/10/09. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2005) Local development framework monitoring: A good practice guide, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Ratcliffe, J., Stubbs, M., and Shepherd, M. (2001) Urban planning and real estate development (Second Edition), UCL Press. Read More