Recent News

 

Revised Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Green Belt and Open Countryside (Dwellings) Policy Guidance - August 2010

 

The Council will be preparing Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) to support the Local Development Framework (LDF).

 

In March 2009, the Council published an SPD for consultation which considered replacement dwellings and extensions to dwellings in the Green Belt and Open Countryside.  The document was prepared to provide guidance on rural building conversions, replacement dwellings, extensions to dwellings, extensions to dwellings formed from conversions of rural buildings, and changes of use of land to gardens. However, as a result of significant changes that have taken place on the rules applying to property extensions (permitted development rights) and which apply to dwellings in the Green Belt and Open Countryside, the Council has now taken the decision to revise the document.  The latest document also takes into account the outcome of some recent appeal decisions.

 

A revised Green Belt and Open Countryside (Dwellings) Policy Guidance SPD has been prepared for consultation and the Council would like to invite you to comment on the document. This will be your main opportunity to be involved in the formulation of the emerging policy guidance and your views would be welcomed.

 

PDF Document: Revised Green Belt and Open Countryside (Dwellings) Policy Guidance - August 2010 (376KB)

Word Document: Revised Green Belt and Open Countryside (Dwellings) Policy Guidance Response Form (559KB)

 

Link to the On-line Consultation System

 

For more information about the Green Belt and Open Countryside (Dwellings) Policy SPD call 01902 696419.

 

Policy Choices Consultation - March 2010

 

Policy H4 - Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople - March 2010

 

The Council recently carried out a Policy Choices consultation on the Core Strategy, in which it was stated that the policy relating to Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople was under review. In the light of the responses received to the Council's Interim Policy Statement, the Council has now decided not to pursue the preparation of a separate district wide Interim Policy Statement on Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople, but to include an appropriate policy in the Core Strategy.

 

The Council welcomes your views on the draft Policy H4 'Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople'. The consultation period runs for eight weeks from 29th March to 24th May 2010 during which time representations may be made. You can make your comments through the on-line consultation facility link below:-

 

On-line Consultation System

 

Alternatively you can download response forms below and return them to the Council Offices.

 

Word Document: Draft Policy H4 Response Form (71KB)

PDF Document: Draft Policy H4 Document (284KB)

 

Policy Choices Consultation - January 2010

 

Following the publication of the Preferred Spatial Strategy in January 2009, the Council prepared a discrete Policy Choices Consultation Document. The document contained the proposed Core and Development planning policies, which will be included in the Core Strategy, that are needed to deliver the spatial strategy and to steer and shape development in the District.

 

The Consultation ended on 22nd March 2010 and the Council is now considering the comments received before publication. You can view comments through the on-line consultation facility link below:-

 

On-line Consultation System

 

Alternatively you can download the document below.

 

PDF Document: Policy Choices Document (690KB)

 

Infrastructure Delivery Plan

 

The Council is carrying out an ongoing consultation with infrastructure and service providers in South Staffordshire to consider what supporting physical, social and green infrastructure is already committed or required, taking into account the potential growth in the District. At this time this element of the LDF is targeted solely at infrastructure providers.

 

Village Design Guide

 

Village Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) - adopted 15th September 2009.

 

Protecting and enhancing South Staffordshire's distinctive environment is an important objective of the Council's emerging Local Development Framework (LDF).

 

The 'Village Design Guide' (VDG) has been adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document. The VDG sets out for the first time the detailed considerations which the Council expects applicants and developers to take into account in the design of new developments, conversions and extensions.

 

The VDG sets out:

 

1. -The Fundamental Principles of Development Design
2. -South Staffordshire's Landscape Character, Design Context and Building Materials
3. -Design summaries for 22 of the District's Villages Guidance on Major and Minor Development
4. -The Principles governing works affecting the Historic Environment
5. -Guidance on the Planning and Design processes, and
6. -Appendices providing information on Planning Policy, plus a Glossary of Terms and Contact details.

 

The VDG also includes a Design Appraisal Toolkit, specially adapted to the character of rural villages. Using this, developers and the Council's own Development Control Officers can appraise proposals in detail for their suitability and compatibility with existing buildings.

 

PDF Document: Village Design Guide (5MB)

 

LDF Newsletter

 

This is the first edition of the Newsletter which is designed to give you information about the LDF and the documents being produced. It is also intended to let you know what consultations will be coming up and how you can be involved in the LDF.

 

PDF Document: LDF Newsletter First Edition (1,512KB)

 

Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Draft Interim Policy Statement

 

The Government requires local planning authorities to make provision for Gypsy and Traveller Sites and plots for Travelling Showpeople through the planning process and to deliver sites as quickly as possible.

 

In determining how the needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople are to be met in South Staffordshire, the Council is required to take into account the objectives and accommodation requirements for the West Midlands Region as expressed in the Regional Spatial Strategy and evidence gathered through Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments (GTAAs).

 

The Council intends to consider the provision of Gypsy and Traveller Sites and plots for Travelling Showpeople as part of the Local Development Framework (LDF), but as an interim measure, a Draft Interim Policy Statement was prepared for consultation.  The Interim Policy Statement sets out the Council’s proposed interim approach to planning policy to assist in the determination of planning applications and seeks to provide a clear policy direction until policies and proposals are in place in the LDF.

 

The consultation period has ended, and the Council is now considering the comments received.

 

PDF Document: Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Draft Interim Policy Statement (667 KB)

External Link: On-Line Consultation System

 

 

Search for Sites!  Where should future development be located?

 

The Council has commenced an important evidence gathering exercise looking at where future development might be located in the District.  Land owners, planning agents and developers were asked to provide information about sites they think would be suitable for a variety of land uses including:

 

housing, employment, retail, tourism, community facilities, education/health facilities, sports/leisure, gypsy and travellers/travelling show people, open space, waste management, utility and mixed use development.

 

The sites suggested to the Council will be used to inform the review of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment or SHLAA and the preparation of the Site Allocations document. The call for sites exercise will not in itself determine whether a site should be allocated for development.

 

The information the Council received has been mapped and entered into a database and will be used to update the SHLAA and inform the preparation of the Site Allocations document. To view suggested sites click here.

 

An objective assessment of the sites suggested will now be carried out. A range of sustainability criteria will be developed in order to filter or sieve out those sites that do not deliver the aims and objectives of the Core Strategy, or that are inconsistent with the overall spatial strategy. The most appropriate and deliverable sites will be taken forward in a Site Allocations Options Consultation Document and comments on these sites will be invited.

 

Click here if you want to get involved.

 

On-line Consultation System

 

Did you know that you can now make your views known 24/7? The Council now has an On-Line Consultation System at http://sstaffs-consult.limehouse.co.uk.

 

 

When you register on our on-line system you will have your own account, you can tell us what topic areas you’re interested in and you can update your personal details without the need to write to us or call. You can manage your own comments, save drafts, check the status of your comments and view the comments made by others the moment they’ve been processed by the Council.

 

You can also help us monitor how effectively we are reaching members of our community by completing the on-line monitoring form.

 

Save paper and time!

 

There is no need for you send us your comments in the post once you have made them on-line. You will receive an automatic e-mail confirming the receipt of your comments and then again when your comments have been processed by the Council. You can even change the frequency of the e-mails you receive.

Contact

The Development Plans Team