Core Strategy and Policies DPD

The Core Strategy and Policies DPD (the Core Strategy) is at the heart of the Local Development Framework (LDF).  It sets out the overall planning vision and framework for the Royal Borough for the period 2006-2031 and beyond.

Spatial Planning is about how land is used.  However it also looks at how places work, how people get around, the services available to them and the communities they are part of.  This includes an outline for delivering strategic development needs and requirements, including housing, employment, leisure and retail.

The Core Strategy provides the context within which other parts of the LDF will be prepared and as such will be the first Development Plan Document produced by the Council.

Following extensive consultation, the Council submitted a Core Strategy to Government for independent examination in November 2006.  The Council received the report of the Inspector on 3 October 2007.  The overall conclusion of the report is that the Core Strategy is 'unsound'.  At a meeting of Council on 11 December 2007, it was formally resolved to withdraw the Core Strategy under Section 22(a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

The Council is currently working on a timetable for the preparation of a new Core Strategy.  The timetable will be published in the Local Development Scheme.  In order to inform the preparation of a new Core Strategy, the Council has sought to prepare the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) framework.  In February 2008, the Council published for consultation a joint Scoping Report to inform the preparation of a new Core Strategy DPD and Delivery and Development Principles DPD.  Following the consultation, a Revised Scoping Report and Consultation Statement have been published.  These are available to download below.

•   Revised Scoping Report: Core Strategy DPD & Delivery and Development Principles DPD (pdf 456KB)

•   Consultation Statement: Core Strategy DPD & Delivery and Development Principles DPD (pdf 337KB)

Inspector's Report

•   Inspector's Report on Core Strategy & Policies DPD (pdf 243kb)

•   Inspector's Report on Core Strategy - Fact Check Letter (pdf 53kb)

•   Inspector's Report on Core Strategy - Press Notice (pdf 22kb)

•   Minutes of meeting with GOSE to discuss the Inspector's Report (pdf 27KB)