Latest News - Sites document Examination May 2012

• The Council submitted the Sites document for Examination to government on 4 August 2011. For further information about the examination refer to ‘Examination 2011’ (see ‘Related Links’).
  
  
• Following the hearing sessions held during December 2011 and January 2012 the Council has asked the Inspector to consider limited modifications to the document as part of the examination. The modifications were available for comment from 8 March to 18 April 2012. Comments received will be considered by the Planning Inspector as part of the examination of the Sites document. For further information please refer to 'Modifications 2012' (see 'Related Links').
  
  
• The Government has recently published the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Policy for Traveller Sites. These became effective immediately. The NPPF also requires that all local plans include its model policy for sustainable development, or a similar local interpretation of this policy. In response the Council has agreed that the model policy should be added to the Sites document. The Planning Inspector asked for views on theses by noon on 15 May 2012. Comments received will be considered by the Planning Inspector as part of the examination of the Sites document.  For further information on the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (see 'Related Links').
   
• The Planning Inspector has confirmed that an additional Public Hearing Session will NOT be held on 24 May 2012 in Committee Room A, County Hall, Wakefield. Further details can be found on Core Document 6103 and Core Document 6107. These documents can be viewed on the Core Document list – please refer to ‘Examination 2011’ and follow the ‘Core Documents’ link at the bottom of that page (see ‘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')

The Council has also adopted a series of planning guidance doucments to supplement policies in the LDF (see 'Related Links').