Following the wide-ranging consultation on Issues & Options early in 2005, the Council prepared consultation reports for the following documents:

• Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) -which includes the spatial vision, objectives, development strategy and strategic policies to guide the scale, location and type of development which takes place in the District until 2021; and
• Development Control Policies Development Plan Document (DPD) – which sets out detailed policies for considering planning applications.

The “Preferred Options Reports” set out the Council's recommendations for the two documents. The purpose was for the Council to seek the views of the community and stakeholders before decisions were made about the final content of the documents. It was the first of two formal six week consultation periods which provide the opportunity for people to comment. The second will be when the final documents are submitted to the Secretary of State.

The Preferred Options Reports took account of comments made by people and organisations who responded to the Issues & Options consultation and the new Draft Regional Spatial Strategy which was published in mid-January 2006. An “Initial Statement of Pre-Submission Consultation” was also published which reported on the results of this earlier consultation.

The consultation period started on 19th January 2006 and ran for 6 weeks until 1st March 2006. 

Supporting Documents

The following supporting documents are also available:

• Core Strategy DPD Preferred Options Report Proposals Matters
• Development Control Policies DPD Preferred Options Report Proposals Matters
• Core Strategy DPD Preferred Options Report Summary Leaflet
• Initial Statement of Pre-Submission Consultation
• Preferred Options Comments Form

All the documents can be viewed and downloaded under ‘Downloads’ and are available to view at Council offices and main libraries (details of locations and opening times are set out in the Proposals Matters – click on the link in the right hand column). Copies can also be obtained from the Spatial Policy Group (click on ‘contact the Spatial Policy Group’).