The Analysis of New-Style Plans - Plymouth City Council Local Development Framework - Case Study Example

THE ANALYSIS OF NEW-STYLE PLANS (PLYMOUTH COUNCIL LDF) The Analysis of New-Style Plans (Plymouth Council Local Development Framework Introduction The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (PCPA) introduced a new development plan system including Local Development Frameworks, which empowered local authorities to make their own plans for development as opposed to the role of the Central government (Great Britain, 2004). It is important to note that work on these new-style plans is now in progress all over the country and that the Localism Act 2011 has affected some essentials of this novel structure. Nevertheless, the LDF structure is the present loom to expansion plans in the United Kingdom. After its assent on May 13 2004, the act has been brought into force on diverse dates as set by the Secretary of State in charge of planning. Amongst the new provisions of the Act in terms of the development plan system include the abolition of Crown immunity; planning contributions have replaced planning obligations with the alternative of a set charge. While the Localism Act 2011 makes serious changes in a number of planning areas, the PCPA 2004 only defines the development plan, and how it is devolved from the national government to the local authorities and their own Local Development Frameworks. In addition, compulsory purchase regime has been reformed and developers will have to take a shorter time for planning permissions and the outline for planning permission regime has been made less flexible. Further, applications for planning are proscribed and tracking by the twin method done away with (Gallimore, 2004, p. 109). Therefore, in our discussion, we shall focus on the objective of the Act that states at its preamble that it is an Act relating to spatial development and planning of towns and the country as well as the compulsory acquisition of land. To understand this, we must understand the Localism Act 2011, which is meant to devolve the decision-making powers from the central government to individuals, councils, and communities (Bryant, Ashworth and National Housing Federation, 2012, p. 3). Its focus is mainly on power of competence, rights of the community, neighborhood planning, and housing as opposed to the initial power exercised by the Crown in England and Wales (Harwood, 2013, p. 124). This paper aims at analyzing the Area Action Plan for different areas within Plymouth City Council Local Development Framework and the process of their preparation and implementation. The Plymouth City Council LDF This includes a portfolio of documents known as the Local Development Framework and when adopted together with the Plymouth City Council together with the Regional Spatial Strategy will become the Development Plan for the area under consideration. Adopted on 22 September 2008, it aims at improving the environment in a sustainable manner through the renovation of the sporting and recreational facilities in the central part of Plymouth. The plan includes: Development Plans Documents Core Strategy This sets out the overall planning vision and framework for the city of Plymouth from the year 2006 to 2021 and was adopted on 23 April 2007. It aims at coming up with a sustainable community strategy for Plymouth in such sectors as housing, employment and retail outlets amongst other important amenities or utilities. It ensures that the Development Plan Documents are made in conformity with the Core Strategy as well as the Regional Spatial strategy. Proposal Map The document also has a detailed map that gives the spatial presentation of the area’s core strategy. It also gives the boundaries of all the Development Plan Documents (DPDs) within Plymouth City Council. Through the plan, each area will know its areas of jurisdiction and where its Area Action Plan should apply so that that there is no duplication of duties and roles by those concerned in the implementation of the LDF. Site Specific Allocations This important document has identified the important centres for regeneration within Plymouth City Council namely housing, employment, retail and recreation. These will depend on the areas where the DPDs that have been developed apply (Plymouth City Council, 2014). It also shows the areas that are not included within the Area Action Plans that may be important in meeting the requirements for homes, job opportunities, shopping and recreation. Further, it gives an outline of the important suggestions that are helpful in guiding development and identification of areas that require protection so that there is controlled development in such areas. The City Centre and University Area Action Plan This was adopted on 26 April 2010 to create a revitalized and an electrifying city that is conducive for human settlement as well as commercial and cultural activities in order to drive the local economy. The Central Park Area Action Plan This was adopted on (AAP) was adopted on 22 September 2008 to create an environment that can sustain human settlement as well as offer excellent sports and recreational activities for the residents. The Sutton Harbour Area Action Plan This was adopted on 28 July 2008 with proposals on how to have economic development as the population grows through improvement on education, healthcare and recreation as well as improvements in infrastructure. The North Plymstock Area Action Plan (including Minerals) This was adopted on 6 August 2007 with the aim of creating high quality but distinctive use of the neighborhood in a sustainable manner through infrastructure and high quality public transport. It also aims at using the mineral reserves in the area in a sustainable manner that takes care of interests of the present and the future. The Devonport Area Action Plan This was adopted on 6 August 2007 and aims at addressing the housing issues in the area as well as improves availability and access to healthcare, shopping, recreation, education and transport in the area. It also intends to help in the regeneration of the built environment in the area as well as use the heritage of the area to make it an attractive area. The Millbay and Stonehouse Area Action Plan This was formally adopted on 6 August 2007 aimed at making the area an attractive area that has mixed use and takes advantage of its heritage. It also intends to make use of water to drive its regeneration that can attract investors and improve the quality of life for the area’s residents. Plymouth City Council is currently developing Area Action Plans (AAP) for Derriford and Seaton, East End and Eastern Gateway and The Hoe, which are still in the process of consultation and preparation. Statement of Community Involvement Plymouth City Council has made a statement of community involvement that spells out the standards that must be adopted through engaging the community and all the significant stakeholders so that they are involved in the process of making decisions. This ensures transparency in decision-making and accountability to the residents who will feel that they own the Local Development Framework (LDF) (Jones, 2005, p. 224). Plymouth Urban Fringe Development Plan Document (DPD) This covers the areas on the outskirts of Plymouth such as the communities living in Hemerdon, Woolwell, Roborough and Bickleigh with the purpose of protecting and making improvements on their landscape for sustainable development. Waste Development Plan This document sets out the policy context aimed at handling waste management and their disposal within Plymouth City Council by ensuring that there is adequate and effective policy for waste management. This includes the disposal of wastes, recycling them, composting them or reducing reduction of filling disposal centres (Plymouth City Council, 2014). Authorities Monitoring Report This aims at showing the progress of Plymouth City Council along the timetable set for the production of planning documents as set out in the Local Development Scheme. It also gives a report on the planning policies that are not being carried out and the efforts being made to ensure that they are implemented. In addition, there is a report in the number of human settlements completed in the specific areas and the progress on Neighborhood planning and Community Infrastructure Levy amongst other regulatory taxes and bodies (Plymouth City Council, 2014). Supplementary Planning Documents Plymouth City Council is in the process of developing the Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) aimed at having a clear guideline on the policies that have already been enumerated in the Development Plan Documents (DPDs). These include supplementary documents that give further details on how to attain the required Planning Obligations, affordable Housing, Design Matters, Shopping Centres as well as Sustainable Designs. Sustainability Appraisals and other Assessments The different Area Action Plans were produced as part of the Plymouth City Council Local Development Framework through different appraisals in order that the framework that is developed ensures sustainable development of the areas concerned (Great Britain and Tromans, 2005, p. 2). After the production of the core strategy, the Sustainability Appraisals was developed in consultation and collaboration with the concerned areas as well as the councils on the edge of Plymouth. Plymouth City Council carried out an Equalities Impact Assessments to ensure that all groups and interests are well taken care of and their interests assessed. Later, a Habitat Regulations Assessments was carried out to determine the viability of the proposals and the policies contained in the LDF in order to come up with an economically viable plan. All these were contained in a Sustainable Appraisal Scoping Report that set out the framework on how the documents would be assessed during the implementation of the Local Development Framework. Visions and Objectives The vision and objectives of the LDF was developed by appreciating the position of Plymouth as a leading maritime city in Europe. It sets out the core strategy of Plymouth City Council to achieve proper planning and development by 2021 in areas such as the promotion of population growth as well as increasing the range of services, which must be of quality. It also stresses on excellence in design and creation of job opportunities to boost the economy of Plymouth City Council (Plymouth City Council, 2014). Analysis of the Local Development Framework and Area Action Plans (AAP) As already shown, Plymouth City Council developed different action plans for the specific areas depending on their unique characteristics and endowment in terms of resources. This was through the core strategy that focused on the delivery of Plymouth City Council’s Local Development Framework that was adopted on 23 April 2007. It covered the areas of City Centre and University, Central Park, Sutton Harbour, North Plymstock, Devonport as well as Millbay and Stonehouse (Plymouth City Council, 2014). With the AAPs and the LDF as a guide, the areas concerned used the Statement of Community Involvement that gives a guide on the persons to be consulted in the implementation of the core strategies given in the LDF. The city ensured that it held consultations frequently and in areas that are easily accessible to the residents of Plymouth City Council in order to reach a wider range of people. Through an interactive policies map, Plymouth City Council has implemented its LDF in line with its visions, objectives and strategies for the regeneration of the city with a target of the year of 2021. The policies map has also helped in displaying the proposals and policies that guide in the implementation of the Area Action Plans (AAPs) and the Development Plan Document (DPD). Further, the supplementary development documents some of which are still under development have been under continuous appraisal with the aim of achieving the goals set for the in the Local Development Framework of Plymouth City Council. Conclusion Plymouth City Council has also made its own Local Development Frameworks tailored to meet its own unique nature of the marine city of Plymouth and in observance of the law. It has actively involved the community in the making up of the local development plan that has made its local development framework one of the most progressive and viable local development frameworks as desired by the PCPA of 2004. However, more needs to be done especially by the respective Area Action Plans in order to regenerate and position as the premier marine city of Europe. Through this, the Plymouth City Council Local Development Framework can help in improving the quality of life of the population as well as the economy of the city council. Reference List Bryant, J., Ashworth, S., & National Housing Federation (Great Britain). (2012). Localism Act 2011: Housing and planning : a guide for housing associations. London: National Housing Federation. Gallimore, L. M. (17 July 2004). The Brave New World of Planning. Estates Magazine. EBSCO Publishing. (Online). Available at: http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/14008170/brave-new-world-planning Accessed April 25, 2014). Great Britain. (2004). Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004: Chapter 5. London: Stationery Office. Great Britain, & Tromans, S. (2005). Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004: a guide to the new law. London, Law Society. Harwood, R. (2013). Planning enforcement. Haywards Heath : Bloomsbury Professional, 2013. Jones, C. E. (2005). Strategic environmental assessment and land use planning: an international evaluation. London, Earthscan. Plymouth City Council. (2014). Local Development Framework. Plymouth City Council. (Online). Available at: http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/environmentandplanning/planning/planningpolicy/ldf.htm Plymouth City Council. (2014). Core Strategy Development Plan Document. Plymouth City Council. (Online). Available at: http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/environmentandplanning/planning/planningpolicy/ldf/ldfcorestrategy.htm Plymouth City Council (2014). Sustainability Appraisals and other Documents. (Online). Available at: http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/environmentandplanning/planning/planningpolicy/ldf/sa.htm Read More