Latest News - Sites document Examination February 2012
The Council submitted the Sites document for Examination to government on 4 August 2011.
During December 2011 and January 2012 a government planning inspector has been holding hearing sessions as part of the examination into the soundness of the document.
The Council submitted a schedule of changes with the document and further changes have been discussed during the examination. These are now considered modifications under regulations brought into effect on 15 January by the Localism Act 2011.
The Council has asked the Inspector to consider limited modifications to the document as part of the examination. For further information see 'Examination 2011' under related links.

To view the Sites Submission document, Proposals Map and supporting information please refer to Sites Submission 2011 (see ‘Related Links’).
Local Development Framework Documents
The Government has introduced the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 which requires the Council to produce a new-style local planning framework to replace its Unitary Development Plan (UDP).
The Council adopted its current UDP First Alteration in January 2003 to guide and control development and protect the environment.
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'.
Several parts of the saved UDP have now been replaced by new LDF documents.
The Council is preparing the LDF in the context of national and local policies, including the Wakefield District Partnership's Community Strategy.
The Community Strategy sets out an agreed vision of what the district should be like in 25 years time. The LDF provides the planning strategy for delivering the vision and promoting sustainable development. Consulting with local communities and groups forms an important part of preparing the LDF.
The Wakefield Metropolitan District Unitary Development Plan First Alterations can be viewed by following the links under 'Features'.
The links below provide further information about the process of preparing the LDF. All the LDF documents subject to consultation can be viewed online (see 'Related Links'). Commenting online is the preferred method for all consultation.
The Council adopted the Core Strategy and Development Policies documents on 15 April 2009, the Central Wakefield Area Action Plan on 17 June 2009, and the Waste document on 9 December 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 can be found by following the link below. A schedule of current policies is also available for information (see `Downloads')