A local development framework is the spatial planning strategy introduced in England and Wales by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and given detail in Planning Policy Statements 12. In most parts of the two countries, maintaining the framework is the responsibility of English district councils and Welsh principal area councils.
Planning Policy Statement 12: Creating Strong Safe and Prosperous Communities through Local Spatial Planning (commonly abbreviated as PPS 12), is a document produced by the British Government that sets out the Government's policy on the preparation of local development documentss which will comprise the local development framework. The current version was introduced in June 2008 and replaces the original PPS 12: Local Development Frameworks which was produced in 2004.
The local development framework replaces the previous system of county level structure plans and district level local plans, and unitary development plans for unitary authorities.
The previous system was perceived as being too inflexible and difficult to change in a timely manner. The local development framework system is intended to improve this situation by replacing the old plans with a new portfolio of local development documents that can be tailored to suit the different needs of a particular area and can be easily updated.
The frameworks will be prepared within a regional spatial strategy prepared for each region by the Secretary of State (specifically the Deputy Prime Minister). Local development frameworks are required to have regard to the regional spatial strategy.
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Each framework will be a folder containing a number of inter-related documents:
The local development framework, together with the regional spatial strategy will provide the essential framework for planning in the local authority's area.