Project Plan

Local Development Scheme 2024 - 2026

Revised February 2024

Contents

Introduction

The Development Plan for Wyre Forest

Supporting Planning Policy Documents

Monitoring And Review Of LDS

Planning Popcy Document Structure

  1. INTRODUCTION

    1. Wyre Forest District Council is required by Section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) to prepare and maintain a Local Development Scheme (LDS). The LDS is a project plan which sets out the Local Planning Authority’s timetable over a three year period for preparing documents which form part of its Development Plan as well as other supplementary planning documents.
    2. The LDS informs communities and other interested parties of the process and progress in preparing planning policy documents. Further information on community engagement in the planning process is set out in the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which is available on the website wyreforestdc.gov.uk.
    3. This LDS covers the period 2023-26. It will be kept under review to reflect any changes to planning legislation or policy-related matters.

  2. THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR WYRE FOREST

    1. The National Planning Policy Framework (2021) and National Planning Practice Guidance sets out the government's planning policies and advice for England. They provide a framework within which Development Plans, Neighbourhood Plans and Supplementary Planning Guidance/Documents are prepared.
    2. The Development Plan Documents for Wyre Forest are shown in the table below:

      Document Title

      Date Adopted

      Wyre Forest District Local Plan (2016-2036)

      April 2022

      Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy Local Plan (2012-2027)

      November 2012

      Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan (2018-2036)

      July 2022

      Chaddesley Corbett Neighbourhood Plan (2022-2036)

      April 2023

      Churchill & Blakedown Neighbourhood Plan (2016-2026)

      July 2017
    3. A further 3 Neighbourhood Plan Areas have been formally designated, these are shown in the table below:

      Parish – area covered

      Date Designated

      Bewdley – whole parish

      June 2015

      Upper Arley – whole parish

      July 2015

      Cookley & Caunsall (Eastern part of Wolverley & Cookley Parish)

      September 2018

      WYRE FOREST DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN

    4. The Wyre Forest District Local Plan was adopted in April 2022 and covers the period 2016-2036. This covers the whole district and replaces the Core Strategy (2010), the Site Allocations & Policies Local Plan (2013) and the Kidderminster Action Plan (2013). It addresses the district’s needs and opportunities for housing, employment, community facilities, the built and natural environment and infrastructure. The accompanying Policies Map shows the location of the various designations and site allocations. Under current Government policy, the Local Plan needs to be reviewed at least every 5 years. As of April 2023, Wyre Forest District Council was able to demonstrate over 10 years housing land supply and therefore unless the planning legislation is amended to require an earlier review, no work on a review of the Local Plan is timetabled during this LDS.
    5. The Government have recently consulted on changes to the NPPF which will affect the requirements for future Local Plans. The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill received Royal Assent on 26th October 2023. The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act aims to streamline the local plan-making process. A new set of national development management policies will also be introduced to cover common planning consideration such as Design, Green Belt and Flood Risk. Most of the sections in the Act which relate to plan making and development management will require secondary legislation. The next Local Plan for Wyre Forest will be very different with its content limited to allocating land for development, infrastructure requirements and strategic policies.
    6. The Minerals and Waste Documents are the responsibility of Worcestershire County Council and work is being progressed on a Minerals Site Allocations DPD. Further information can be found on the County Council's website: worcestershire.gov.uk
    7. With the adoption of the Local Plan (2016-2036), the focus of the Planning Policy section is now moving to the implementation of the Local Plan. A number of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) are being prepared to assist with the interpretation of policies contained within the Local Plan.

      NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANS

    8. Neighbourhood Plans provides communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their local area and to shape its development and growth. The Local Planning Authority provides advice to communities that are preparing Neighbourhood Plans to ensure they are consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework.
    9. Bewdley have set up a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group (established in 2015) and they have carried out public consultation and produced a draft Neighbourhood Plan (2020). This is now being revisited in the light of the adoption of the Wyre Forest Local Plan. A decision will be taken in 2024 as to whether to proceed with a Neighbourhood Plan for the town of Bewdley.

  3. SUPPORTING PLANNING POLICY DOCUMENTS

    SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENTS

    1. Supplementary Planning Documents add further detail to Local Plan policies and provide guidance on particular sites or issues. The Local Planning Authority will consult on draft Supplementary Planning Documents for 6 weeks and then will consider representations received and finalise the SPD before it is adopted by Cabinet.
    2. Once adopted, an SPD can be a material consideration in decision-making and should be taken into account in deciding planning applications or appeals. There are several SPDs currently being prepared or have been recently adopted, these are:
    3. Health and Wellbeing SPD – Adopted July 2023
      This SPD provides more detailed advice on the health and wellbeing related policies in the Local Plan. It was prepared in partnership with Worcestershire County Council’s Strategic Planning Team and the Public Health Team. It sets out how developers will be expected to demonstrate that their proposals reflect health and wellbeing principles through the use of Health Impact Assessments.
    4. Housing SPD
      This SPD was consulted on for 6 weeks during November/December 2023. Adoption is expected early in 2024. This document will support the implementation of policies in the Adopted Local Plan relating to housing, provide guidance to help with the preparation of Neighbourhood Plans, inform pre-application advice on housing development and be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. It has been prepared in partnership with Development Management and Housing colleagues.
    5. Design, Amenity and Shopfronts SPD
      The Design Guidance SPD (June 2015) is being fully updated to reflect changes to both National and Local Planning policy. This document will also include a section on shop front design, which will replace the 2004 SPG on Shop Front Design Guidance within the Historic Environment.
    6. Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure SPD
      This is a new SPD which will provide guidance on the implementation of the Environment Act 2021 and further detail on Policies SP.23 and SP.28 of the Adopted Local Plan.
    7. Planning Obligations SPD
      The Planning Obligations SPD 2016 will be updated to reflect changes in National and Local Planning policy.

    8. The following table sets out the timetable for the production of Supplementary Planning Documents over the next 3 years. 

      Document title

      Committee cycle

      Consultation

      Adoption of SPD

      Housing SPD

      October 2023

      Nov/Dec 2023

      February 2024

      Design, Amenity and Shopfronts SPD

      early 2024

      Spring 2024

      Summer 2024

      Biodiversity & Green Infrastructure SPD

      Spring 2024

      Early summer 2024

      Adoption late summer 2024

      Planning Obligations SPD

      Summer 2024

      Late summer 2024

      Autumn 2024

      CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISALS

    9. Conservation Area Character Appraisals – Appraisals for Stourport No.1 and Stourport No.2 are currently being redrafted to bring them up to date to reflect changes on the ground and with planning policy. They are due to be consulted on in early 2024. Following this, Character Appraisals for Gilgal and Bewdley will then be revised and updated.

      Document Title

      Committee Cycle

      Consultation

      Adoption

      Stourport No.1 CACA

      Early 2024

      Early 2024

      Spring 2024

      Stourport No.2

      Early 2024

      Early 2024

      Spring 2024

      Gilgal

      Autumn 2024

      Autumn 2024

      Winter 2024

      Bewdley

      Autumn 2025

      Autumn 2025

      Winter 2025

      Churchill

      Autumn 2026

      Autumn 2026

      Winter 2026

      BROWNFIELD LAND REGISTER

    10. The LPA is required to prepare, maintain and publish a register of previously developed (brownfield) land which is suitable for residential development. The register is made up of sites which have been assessed as having potential for residential redevelopment. The Brownfield Land Register is published on the Council’s website and reviewed at least annually to include new sites and make amendments to the details on existing sites, for example where redevelopment has started. There is no requirement to consult on sites proposed for inclusion on the register.

      SELF-BUILD AND CUSTOM-BUILD REGISTER

    11. The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 places a duty on the local authorities to keep and regard to a register of people who are interested in self-build or custom-build projects in their area. Self-build or custom-build housing is built by an individual, a group of individuals, or persons working with or for them, to be occupied by that individual. Such housing can be either market or affordable housing.
    12. An online registration form is available on the website. Information from the register helps to gauge the level of demand for such plots in Wyre Forest District. The LPA will use this information to try to match applicants with suitable plots but there is no guarantee.

      AUTHORITY MONITORING REPORT

    13. The Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) is published on an annual basis. The AMR includes the following:
      • Progress towards the preparation of documents outlined in the LDS
      • Progress towards the delivery of net additional market and affordable dwellings
      • Progress towards the delivery of employment land
      • Details of any policy documents that have been adopted or approved
      • Details of any Local Plan policies not being implemented and reasons why
      • Details of any Neighbourhood Plans that have been ‘made’

      The AMR can help inform whether there is a need to undertake a partial or full update of the Local Plan. The latest published AMR is available on the website.

  4. MONITORING AND REVIEW OF LDS

    1. The Local Planning Authority will keep the LDS under review.

  5. PLANNING POLICY DOCUMENT STRUCTURE

    • Development Plan Documents

      • Wyre Forest District Plan 2016-36
      • Neighbourhood Plans

    • Supplementary Planning Documents

      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Housing
      • Design & Amenity
      • Biodiversity & Green Infrastructure
      • Planning Obligations

    • Local Registers

      • Brownfield Land Register
      • Self-Build & Custom-Build Register

    • Supporting Documents

      • Authority Monitoring Report
      • Statement of Community Involvement
      • Local Development Scheme
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