Council websites carry information in their planning policy sections on the current Local Plan. These will contain links to the full Plan as well as to any accompanying mapped information – usually a “proposals” or “policies” map.
Plans are expected to be kept under review by authorities and proposed revisions or replacement plans brought forward as necessary by the local authority. Updates on progress made with emerging revisions or replacement plans will also be on the website.
Local Plan Timetables (Local Development Schemes) - periodically, Councils prepare timetables to show the expected key stages in the production of their revised or new plans. Known as “Local Development Schemes”, these too will be accessible from an authority’s website planning pages.
Supporting information (Evidence Base) - supporting information on proposed revisions or new plans will be set out in an “evidence base” section. This might include information ranging from assessments of local housing needs or commercial / employment floorspace needs over the next 5-10 years, mapped information on agricultural land quality, townscape or landscape quality, flood risk areas, local important environmental areas or designations, or schedules of such assets as local listed buildings. All will be intended to support the authority’s case in support of its revised policies or new plan at an eventual public inquiry held by an independent planning inspector. If the revised or new plan is finally adopted afterwards, the evidence base will remain important in helping to inform subsequent decisions on planning applications and at appeals.
Supplementary Planning Documents - Local Plans are frequently accompanied by associated documents intended to illustrate how a particular plan policy will be interpreted by the authority. These usually take the form of “Supplementary Planning Documents” and might aim to explain how an authority will approach particular issues in its areas when using its Local Plan policies – e.g. to address demand for house extensions, for houses in multiple occupation or for changes to buildings in conservation areas.
Neighbourhood Plans - if there are neighbourhood plans being prepared or already made in a local authority’s area, or if the authority is involved with the preparation of a waste and minerals plan covering its area, it will also carry details of these on its planning policy web pages.
Authority Monitoring Reports - local planning authorities are required to publish annual Authority Monitoring Reports which assess progress on the delivery of the local development scheme, the progress of development across the authority’s area and reviews the effectiveness of Local Plan policies and proposals.