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Local development framework

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is the new style development plan for the district. It will gradually replace the current Local Plan and will cover the period 2006 to 2021. Like the Local Plan it will set out the policies that will be used to determine planning applications and it will also allocate land for development for specific uses. It will complement and build upon other plans and policies produced at national, regional and local level.

A consultation on the Districts Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is currently underway. To learn more about the SHLAA and comment on specific sites in the City of Durham District, please see the consultation page for more details.

The districts 5 year housing land supply (2008-2013) can be found below under the sub-title 'planning for housing'.

Our current timetable for producing the LDF can be downloaded by following the link below:

Local Development Framework Timetable.

Contents of the Local Development Framework

The LDF will consist of the following documents:

• Core Strategy
• Development Control Policies
• Planning for Housing
• Planning for Employment
• Planning for the City Centre and Retailing
• Planning for our Heritage
• Getting Involved in Planning (Statement of Community Involvement)
• Provision of Public Art in Major Developments Supplementary Planning Document
• Provision of Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document

In addition the Council produces the following documents as part of the process of preparing the new LDF:

• Local Development Scheme
• Annual Monitoring Reports
• Sustainability Appraisals

All published LDF documents can be found by following the link below:

Local Development Framework published documents

Core Strategy

The Core Strategy will cover the strategic vision for the City of Durham and will contain policies on how to implement the key land-use planning aspects of the vision. This will include the protection and enhancement of the natural environment including the Green Belt and the general location for new development within the district. The Core Strategy will be a Development Plan Document.

Work will not commence on the Core Strategy until mid 2008.

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Development Control Policies

The Development Control Policies will set out the general criteria that will be used for determining planning applications including design and layout of developments, and appropriate and inappropriate development in the countryside. Development Control Policies will be a Development Plan Document. Issues and Alternative Options for Development Control Policies were published in October 2006 and we are now working towards our preferred options due to be published in August 2007.

Development Control Policies published documents

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Planning for Housing

Planning for Housing will set out allocations for housing land within the district and also set out the criteria for determining applications for new housing including where new housing will be allowed within settlements. Issues of affordable housing and balanced communities will be covered by Planning for Housing. It will be Development Plan Document.

Preferred Options for Planning for Housing were published in September 2005 and Preferred Housing Sites were published in October 2006. We are now working towards a final Submission Draft document due for publication in August 2007. Follow the link below to view all published documents relating to Planning for Housing:

Planning for Housing published documents

5 Year Housing Supply in Durham City District 2008 - 2013

The document explains why the district requires a housing supply and demonstrates that Durham has a 5 year Housing Supply until March 2013. The document includes lists and maps of deliverable housing sites in the district.

5-year Housing Supply in Durham City District 2008 - 2013

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Planning for Employment

Planning for Employment will set out allocations for employment land within the district. It will also set out the criteria for determining applications for new employment generating uses elsewhere in the district. Planning for Employment will be a Development Plan Document.

Work will not commence on Planning for Employment until late 2008.

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Planning for the City Centre and Retailing

Planning for the City Centre and Retailing will allocate land in the City Centre for future development taking into account the Durham 2020 Vision project. It will also set out criteria for determining planning applications in the City Centre, district centres and local centres throughout the district. Planning for the City Centre and Retailing will be a Development Plan Document.

Our preferred options were published in August 2006 and we our now preparing the Submission Draft which is due for publication in August 2007. To view all published documents relating to Planning for the City Centre and Retailing please follow the link below:

Planning for the City Centre and Retailing published documents

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Planning for our Heritage

Planning for our Heritage will set out the policies for the protection and enhancement of the district's historic environment. It will be a Development Plan Document. Issues and Alternative Options for Planning for our Heritage were published in October 2006. We are now preparing our preferred options due to be published in August 2007.

Planning for our Heritage published documents

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Getting Involved in Planning

Getting Involved in Planning is the Council's Statement of Community Involvement. It will set out how the Council will involve communities and other stakeholders in the preparation of the LDF and also when determining planning applications.

The consultation on the Submission Draft SCI finished in October 2006 and we are now processing the comments in preparation for the Examination in Public expected early next year. To view all published documents relating to Getting Involved in Planning follow the link below:

Getting Involved in Planning published documents

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Provision of Public Art in Major Developments

Provision of Public Art in Major Developments is a supplementary planning document that provides additional guidance to developers regarding the provision of public art in major developments. It was published in August 2006.

Provision of Public Art published documents

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Provision of Affordable Housing

Provision of Affordable Housing is a supplementary planning document that builds on current Local Plan Policy H12 which defines the Council's commitment to Affordable Housing. The draft SPD provides a mechanism for securing affordable housing through the planning system.

Provision of Affordable Housing published documents

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Local Development Scheme

The Local Development Scheme is the full project plan for producing the LDF detailing the timetable for production and the exact content of the LDF. To view the Local Development Scheme please follow the link below:

Local Development Scheme March 2007 (pdf 391KB)

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Annual Monitoring Reports

The Annual Monitoring Reports look at the effects policies in both the adopted Local Plan and also the LDF are having on the district. It also looks at progress towards producing the LDF compared to the target dates set out in the project timetable. The report for 2005/6 was published in September 2006 and can be viewed by following the link below:

Annual Monitoring Report for 2005/6 published documents

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Sustainability Appraisals

The Preferred Options and Submission Draft of each element of the LDF (apart from Getting Involved in Planning) requires a full Sustainability Appraisal. Using a set of criteria that address the key sustainability issues for the district, each issue, option or policy identified is appraised and if necessary, mitigation measures proposed and incorporated into new planning policies. These criteria are set out in the Scoping Report for the Sustainability Appraisal published in July 2005. To view all published documents relating to Sustainability Appraisals follow the link below:

Sustainabillity Appraisals published documents

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Other pages you may find useful

• Development control (PID 608)
• Planning applications - residential (PID 485)