Local Development Framework

The Local Development Framework is a folder of planning policy documents that outline the spatial planning strategy for Cheshire East. It is an important part of the planning system and helps to manage how development takes place in towns and in the countryside. Together with the Regional Spatial Strategy, it will form the statutory development plan for Cheshire East and determine how the planning system helps to shape local places and communities.  The Local Development Framework will play an important role in delivering the vision set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy, produced by the Local Strategic Partnership.

If you wish to be consulted on the development of documents within the Local Development Framework, please register your details to be included in the Council's LDF Consultation Database.

Documents produced or planned in the Cheshire East Local Development Framework:

Local Development Scheme

The Local Development Scheme (PDF, 816KB) is a public statement of the Council’s programme for the production of documents in the Local Development Framework. It acts as a project plan for the Council, and provides the starting point for local communities and other interested parties to find out what planning policies relate to their area and outlines the timetable for the preparation of new Local Development Framework documents over a rolling three-year period. The current Local Development Scheme came into effect on 18th February 2009.

Statement of Community Involvement

The Statement of Community Involvement sets out how the Council will involve the community and other interested parties in the preparation of new Local Development Framework documents and in the consideration of planning applications.

Development Plan Documents

Development Plan Documents are part of the statutory development plan for Cheshire East and will be subject to an independent public examination with the Planning Inspectorate before they are adopted as policy. The Cheshire East LDF is at an early stage of development and there are no adopted Development Plan Documents. Consequently, the Council has a number of ‘saved policies’ which set out the current planning policy for the area. These will be replaced over time by the documents listed below.

• Core Strategy
  The Core Strategy will be the primary Development Plan Document in Cheshire East. It will set out the vision for the area over the next 15 years.
• Site Specific Allocations
  The Site Specific Allocations document will set out detailed policies and proposals to deliver and guide development on land allocated for specific purposes.
• Minerals Policies and Allocations
  The Minerals Policies and Allocations DPD will allocate sites and areas for minerals development where applicable and will also contain detailed development management policies.
• Area Action Plans
  Area Action Plans will be developed to provide a detailed planning framework for areas undergoing significant change and areas of conservation. At present, it is proposed to develop Area Action Plans for Congleton Town Centre and Middlewich Canal Corridor after production of the Core Strategy.

Supplementary Planning Documents

Supplementary Planning Documents may cover a range of additional issues which expand on existing policy or provide further details on policies in a Development Plan Document (or on ‘saved policies’ before the publication of Development Plan Documents in Cheshire East). They may take the form of design guides, area development briefs, master plans or topic-based documents. Supplementary Planning Documents are not subject to independent examination and do not form part of the statutory development plan for the Borough. However, they are part of the Local Development Framework and are ‘material considerations’ when determining planning applications. A number of Supplementary Planning Documents are already adopted within Cheshire East and more are planned for production in the near future.

Annual Monitoring Report

A Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring Report is published each year that sets out progress made on producing Local Development Framework Documents and implementing planning policies. Data is reported on a number of targets and indicators that enables the Council to monitor the effectiveness of its planning policies and documents.

Documents in the Local Development Framework are also shown in the Cheshire East Local Development Framework Diagram (PDF, 77.9KB).

Development of new planning policies must be supported by appropriate evidence. The Council is currently developing a significant body of research to support the development of the Core Strategy and further details can be found on the Evidence and Research page.