The Council adopted the Core Strategy and Development Policies documents on 15 April 2009.  

These documents now form part of the statutory development plan for Wakefield District and replace many of the policies in the UDP.

• Copies of the documents, the Planning Inspector’s reports and information relating to the adoption of the documents are available (see 'Downloads').

About the Core Strategy 

The Core Strategy sets out the spatial vision, objectives, development strategy and a series of over-arching strategic policies that will guide the scale, location and type of development in the District until 2026. The Development Policies Document will also provide a comprehensive set of policies which will provide the basis for determining detailed issues when dealing with planning applications. 

Preparation of the documents has included wide ranging consultation and engagement with the public and interested parties, details of which can be accessed by following the appropriate links below. Briefly, the main stages have been: 

• LDF Issues – Early Community Engagement: Summer/Autumn 2004
• Issues & Options Consultation: January – March 2005
• Preferred Options Consultation: January – March 2006
• Submission Consultation: January - February 2008

A senior government planning inspector has found the Council's LDF Core Strategy and Development Policies documents sound after examining them throughout 2008.

Information relating to previous stages: