The Unitary Development Plan (UDP), together with the Regional Spatial Strategy, forms the statutory development plan for the District. It identifies land suitable for housing, industry, retail, or other uses, and sets out the policies that the Council applies when assessing development proposals and protecting the environment. It provides the basis for determining all planning applications.

The original UDP was adopted in December 1994. The Council has undertaken a review of the UDP and adopted the proposals for the alteration of the plan on 17 January 2003. The adopted proposals form part of the development plan for the District, known as the Wakefield Metropolitan District Unitary Development Plan First Alteration.

Important Notice - Extension of Saved Policies:

Refer to Secretary of State's Direction under Paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 8 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to see the UDP policies and proposals that apply after 27 September 2007.  A copy of the Direction is available in Downloads. 

The Wakefield Metropolitan District Unitary Development Plan First Alteration and Regional Spatial Strategy can be viewed by following the links under ‘Features’.

Copies of the UDP and Direction are also available for inspection at the following Council Offices:

• Newton Bar, Leeds Road, Wakefield
• Castleford Civic Centre, Ferrybridge Road, Castleford
• Normanton Town Hall, High Street, Normanton
• Wakefield Town Hall, Wood Street, Wakefield

and at the following libraries:

• Ackworth
• Castleford
• Featherstone
• Horbury
• Kettlethorpe
• Knottingley
• Normanton Martin Frobisher
• Ossett
• Pontefract
• South Elmsall

Details of the UDP documents that are available to be purchased and details of the library opening times are available by following the appropriate link under 'Related Links'.  

Details of the UDP Review process are summarised in the UDP. However, the Inspector's Report and the Council's Response to Representations on the Modifications document are made available in the Downloads area for information.  

The Council has adopted a series of planning guidance documents to supplement some of the policies in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP). Details are available by following the appropriate link under 'Related Links'.

The Government has introduced the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 which requires the Council to produce a new-style Local Development Framework to replace its UDP.  Follow the link under 'Features' for information about the process of preparing the Local Development Framework.