Development plan documents DPD
Local Plans are prepared by local planning authorities. They set out a framework for the future development of an area on a 15-year horizon. They define; the priorities for an area, strategic policies, the framework for neighbourhood plans, land allocations, infrastructure requirements, housing needs, requirements for safeguarding the environment, measures for adapting to climate change and so on. Local plans are also the starting-point for considering whether planning applications should be approved.
The Local Plan consists of a number of Development Plan Documents (DPD) which set out the spatial planning policies for the local authority area. Development Plan Documents were introduced by reforms to the planning system under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, to create more flexible local planning policy that was easier to change.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) defines Local Plans as, ‘The plan for the future development of the local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Current core strategies or other planning policies, which under the regulations would be considered to be development plan documents, form part of the Local Plan. The term includes old policies which have been saved under the 2004 Act.’
Development Plan Documents should not repeat policies set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, but should provide detailed guidance in relation to local circumstances.
The local authority must set out the programme for preparing Development Plan Document in a Local Development Scheme (LDS). Their preparation should involve all those with an interest in the documents, and they should also have the chance to comment on draft documents. Development Plan Documents are then inspected by an independent planning inspector to ensure they have been prepared legally and that they are ‘sound’, that is, they show good judgement and are able to be trusted.
The number and structure of Development Plan Documents is not prescribed by national policy and so may vary from one planning authority to another. The NPPF states, ‘Each local planning authority should produce a Local Plan for its area.... Any additional development plan documents should only be used where clearly justified.’
As a result, there may be very few Development Plan Documents, or they may include a range of documents such as:
- Core strategy.
- Site allocations.
- Area action plans.
- Proposals maps.
- Development management policies.
- Travelling communities site allocations.
- Minerals.
- Waste.
- Parking.
- Biodiversity.
- Planning obligations.
- Affordable housing.
Development Plan Documents are the statutory elements of the Local Plan. They may be supported by non-statutory Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) which provide further information and details to support the policies found in the Development Plan Documents.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Core strategy.
- Development management.
- Development plan.
- Duty to cooperate.
- Local development framework.
- Local development scheme.
- Local plan.
- London plan.
- Neighbourhood plan.
- NPPF.
- Planning authorities.
- Planning permission.
- Preferred options.
- Saved policies.
- Statement of community involvement.
- Supplementary planning documents.
- The London Plan.
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.