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Regional Communities Plan The Government’s vision for us. It sets out strategic growth options

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) This will be a legally binding document and development plan, and Local Development Frameworks (see below) will have to be in 'general conformity' with it. So, if the RSS decides that our region is to be designated as, say, a Business Growth Zone, we have a big problem. It will be difficult to argue 'back up the line' from the local level once an RSS has been adopted. Also the RSS will have sub-sets, called Sub-Regional Plans, for all manner of topics, e.g. housing.

Local Development Framework (LDF) Instead of a Local Plan, District and Unitary Councils have a Local Development Framework. The Framework is intended to be a less formal, more flexible plan and will have three parts:

1. Local Strategic Policy This document will have a map, which will plot major planning designations such as Green Belt and major development sites. The policy will be briefer and much less detailed than current Local Plans. It will set out where the Action Plan (see below) will take place.

2. Action Plan This will offer a detailed description of the way specific areas will develop. It is supposed to be prepared for areas of change, such as town centres or market towns.

3. Statement of Community Involvement This will lay out how our local council should consult the public in plan-making and development control. We don’t know what sort of standards these documents will contain but, in theory, local people could have a say in their preparation. The contents of an SCI will be subject to a public inquiry.

Local Community Strategies Local Community Strategies were introduced under the Local Government Act 2000. These strategies are supposed set out a long-term vision for our area. They are important because Local Development Frameworks are meant to be based on the objectives of the Local Community Strategy. However, other bodies such as Local Strategic Partnerships also have a big input to these documents.