Planning Policy Updates
First Homes Interim Policy Statement - March 2022
On 24 May 2021, the Government published a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) amending national planning policy to introduce a new affordable housing product, known as First Homes. The WMS was followed by changes and additions to the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG), setting out requirements for developers and Councils in more detail.
These changes will have an impact on the Council's adopted affordable housing policies. An Interim Policy Statement has been published which sets out the Council's expectations for interpretation of its adopted policies in light of these new national requirements.
First Homes Interim Policy Statement
Local Plan Review - Preferred Options Consultation now closed
The 6-week consultation period for the Preferred Options closed at 5pm on Monday 13 December 2021. The Local Plans Team will now read through all the responses made and comments will be taken on board as we move forward with the review. Once the comments have been read and redacted to remove personal information, they will be made publicly available. This may take some time due to the level of responses - we will update the website and social media when they are published. We will write automatically to anyone who has made a comment to let them know when the next stage of consultation will take place in 2022. Many thanks to all those who participated in the consultation by sending in their views or attending our in-person appointments and online Q&A sessions.
Our Local Plan sets the planning framework for South Staffordshire and contains sites for new housing and employment and the policies used to decide planning applications. We must review our Local Plan at least every 5 years to make sure it's up to date.
Read more about the Local Plan review in our Local Plan Review FAQs
*NEW* Local Plans Consultation Portal
It is now simple to register on our Local Plans Consultation Portal and make comments on a live consultation. All you need is an email address to get started.
If you have made comments to previous Local Plan consultations you may already be registered. If so, when you try to register, your email address will be recognised and you will see the message ‘That email address already exists. Did you want to log in instead?' If this happens please go to login, enter your email address and click ‘I can't remember my password'. This will prompt an email to you where you will be able to set your own password.
Site Suggestions
We receive many proposals from individuals, planning agents and developers for land for inclusion in our Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA). This can be a result of our regular Calls for Sites, or on an ad hoc basis. All sites that are suggested to us are added to our SHELAA so that we have a public record of available land.
The SHELAA therefore provides an evidence base of potential sites to inform the Local Plan review. It does not make policy decisions on future housing or employment allocations.
The inclusion of sites in the SHELAA does not mean they are likely to be developed, or that the Council would view applications on these sites favourably.
*NEW* SHELAA FAQs
Interactive Local Plan Map
See our new Interactive Local Plan Map which shows Local Plan policies, including Green Belt, and other designations such as open spaces.
Keeping in Touch
It is much quicker and easier for us to keep you informed by email. If you have made comments on any of our consultations previously you will be on our database and we will automatically contact you to keep you informed of local planning matters, including the SAD.
Data Protection
The Strategic Planning Team manages and maintains a register of persons who have an interest in local planning documents (Local Plan Database); those who wish to register land for future development on our Self and Custom Build Register and/or Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA); and regarding Empty Properties. In order to do this in an effective way we will need to collect and use personal information about you. For more information about how we process this data see Strategic Planning Team - Data Protection.
Contact
Local Plans
Telephone: (01902) 696000
Email: localplans@sstaffs.gov.uk