Local Development Framework
(LDF)
The LDF, which will gradually supersede the WBC Local Plan,
will not be prepared as a single document, but a number of separate
documents that will be produced over a number of years. It will
be valid to 2026. The programme for the production of the documents
set in 2006 has had to be revised due to the government's rejection
of the first core document. For the current schedule refer to
this link to the WBC web site: More
details...
The first document of the LDF is sometimes referred to as the
'Core Strategy Planning Document' (it is akin to a structure
plan, but at the local level).
This is now called the West Berkshire Planning Strategy
DPD (WBPS). This is the document that will outline the
areas designated for the development of 10,500 new homes
in West Berks up to 2026. Once adopted the WBPS recommendations
will be binding. It was first issued in February 2006,
and after initial and formal public consultations it was
submitted for 'Public Examination' by the Inspector in
September 2006. However, the Council had to withdraw this
document because of concerns expressed by the Planning
Inspectorate and the Government Office that the plan did
not contain enough detail on the scale and location of
development.
Place Manor, Wallingford Road
SPAG commented on the revised "WBPS Core
Strategy" document in January 2008. This was approved by
WBC for submission to the Secretary of State on 21st January
2010. It will go through a final consultation Phase in February
to April 2010 and then will undergo “Public examination”
in Autumn 2010 which will be an 8 to 14 week public enquiry
period. This will be the last chance for changes before it’s
anticipated approval in Spring 2011 when it will become the
defining document for West Berkshire, and in particular Streatley,
planning policy and development until 2026.
The WBPS sets out the broad planning policies for further development,
but does not include the fine detail. Specific housing site
allocations in villages will not be defined in the WBPS. They
will be defined in the 'Housing Sites Allocations DPD' and this
will show the sites on map(s). Work by WBC on this document
(i.e. selecting sites for housing inside or outside Settlement
Boundaries) will have started but the WBC link in the first
paragraph above does not yet give a date for “Initial
Consultations and Involvement”.. We understand it will
be this period where we have the opportunity to comment on the
proposals submitted by landowners for development of areas outside
the Streatley Settlement Boundary.
The LDF Core Strategy document has classified Streatley as a
“Rural Village” (similar to Basildon and Hampstead
Norreys). This defines it a suitable for small scale in-fill
development only (within the Settlement Boundary).
The current housing allocation for "the rest of Berkshire"
(effectively villages north of the M4 and some in the Inkpen
area), was up to 100 houses per year. WBC considered this to
be on the high side and were going to make representations that
this is not an appropriate level as it covers the AONB (which
is treated as the same as a National Park). We do not yet know
the result of this.
We were told that the WBC will be proposing that the village
Settlement Boundaries do not change in the short to medium term,
and not before the adoption of the WBPS in Spring 2011. Thus
WBC propose that any proposed, and subsequently agreed, future
development areas which would be currently outside the Local
Plan Settlement Boundary, will still be shown outside the Settlement
Boundary in the Housing Sites Allocations Section of the LDF
final document. However before adoption any such areas would
be subject to local agreement. WBC explained to us there would
be ample opportunity for objection, with for example site notices
being displayed for controversial changes. WBC felt the opportunity
for eleventh hour submissions was now no longer available as
any proposed changes included with comments would still have
a comment period.
In time the Settlement Boundaries, for ALL West Berkshire settlements,
will be reviewed and renewed, but no date has been given yet
for this activity.
