Draft Canterbury District
Local Plan to 2045
LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT
SCHEME
(OCTOBER 2022)
Contents
1. What is the Local Development Scheme? 2
2. What is the Development Plan? 2
3. Local Plan Review 3
4. Strategic Environmental Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations 3
5. Joint Working 3
6. Supporting Documents 4
7. Supplementary Planning Documents 4
8. Neighbourhood Plans 5
Appendix 1 - Local Plan Timetable 6-7
Appendix 2 - Risk Assessment 8-9
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1. What is the Local Development Scheme?
1.1 The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the documents which will form the development plan for the district. The LDS informs local
communities and interested parties about the anticipated timetable for preparing planning documents.
1.2 The LDS is published on the council’s website and progress is reported annually through the Authority Monitoring Report.
1.3 The council is legally required to adopt and keep up to date its LDS under Section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as
amended).
1.4 This LDS was adopted by the Council on XX October 2022. The document replaces the previous Local Development Scheme (May 2021). The key
difference compared to the previous Local Development Scheme is that more time has been built into the Local Plan timetable, to allow for
additional community involvement and the preparation of additional technical evidence.
2. What is the Development Plan?
2.1 The Development Plan for Canterbury district currently consists of:
● Canterbury District Local Plan (2017) - prepared by Canterbury City Council
● Herne Bay Area Action Plan (2010) , which sets out a strategy for Herne Bay town centre - prepared by Canterbury City Council
● Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013 - 2030 - prepared by Kent County Council
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3. New Canterbury District Local Plan (2020 - 2045)
3.1 Local Planning Authorities are now required to review Local Plans at least every five years from adoption and update where necessary.
3.2 The LDS sets out the council’s timeline for the preparation of the new Local Plan.
3.3 When adopted, the new Local Plan will become a Development Plan Document.
4. Strategic Environmental Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations
4.1 The council is required to assess and appraise its development plan documents to comply with Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA),
Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Habitat Regulations (HRA) requirements.
4.2 Carrying out an SEA/SA/HRA ensures that social, economic and environmental implications are considered effectively and that full account is taken
of protected wildlife habitats in the Natura 2000 network, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar areas.
4.3 The process provides an objective assessment of our proposals at key stages of plan making, which is itself subject to consultation.
4.4 Communities must ensure that any Neighbourhood Plans meet any necessary legal requirements in this respect.
5. Joint Working
5.1 The Council works collaboratively with neighbouring local authorities and key stakeholders on a range of shared strategic issues. As part of the
review of the Local Plan the council is developing Statements of Common Ground with relevant local authorities and bodies to outline these issues
and how we intend to work collaboratively to address them.
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6. Supporting Documents
6.1 The Canterbury District Local Plan also has several supporting documents which are available to view on the Council’s website.
These include:
6.2 The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which sets out how we will involve the community in the planning decisions that will shape the
future of our district. This includes deciding planning applications and making the Local Plan as well as setting out how we will support communities
to make neighbourhood plans. The SCI was adopted on 9 October 2019.
6.3 Progress on the Development Plan Documents prepared by the council will be reported through the Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) and
Housing Land Supply Statements.
7. Supplementary Planning Documents
7.1 Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) are not part of the statutory Development Plan but provide additional guidance on matters covered in
Development Plan Documents and are capable of being a material consideration in planning applications.
7.2 SPDs which are likely to have significant social, economic or environmental impacts that were not adequately considered in the SA of the relevant
development plan policy may need to be subject to Sustainability Appraisal.
7.3 We will prepare new SPDs, where appropriate.
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8. Neighbourhood Plans
8.1 Neighbourhood Plans were introduced through the Localism Act 2011. They are prepared by communities, usually led by a parish council or
neighbourhood forum. These plans form part of the statutory planning framework and are subject to set procedures, including an independent
examination. They have to be approved by the local community through a local referendum.
8.2 Communities must ensure their Neighbourhood Plans meet any necessary legal requirements in respect of SEA and HRA requirements.
8.3 There are currently no adopted Neighbourhood Plans within the District. Neighbourhood Plans are currently being prepared for the parishes of
Bridge, Chartham, Fordwich, Thanington and Upper Hardres.
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Appendix 1 - Timetable for Local Plan Review
Before a Local Plan can be adopted by the council, it must go through a series of stages. Each of these key stages are also subject to the Strategic
Environmental Assessment Directive, which will be incorporated into the Sustainability Appraisal. The key stages are set out below.
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
C O E A E A P A U U U E C O E A E A P A U U U E C O E A E A P A U U U E C O E A E A P A U U U E C O E
T V C N B R R Y N L G P T V C N B R R Y N L G P T V C N B R R Y N L G P T V C N B R R Y N L G P T V C
2024 2025
J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
A E A P A U U U E C O E A E A P A U U U E C O E
N B R R Y N L G P T V C N B R R Y N L G P T V C
Stage 1 Issues and Options Within this period we will be gathering and analysing information and
evidence, carrying out a call for sites, assessing sites, providing opportunities
October 2019 - August 2021 for local people, interested parties and statutory consultees to consider issues
and options. This stage will involve two public consultations.
Stage 2 Draft Local Plan preparation and consultation (Regulation 18) Within this period we will be analysing consultations responses, completing
September 2021 - January 2023 site assessments and site selection, preparing infrastructure strategies,
continuing to gather and analyse information and evidence, and continuing to
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engage with local people, interested parties and statutory consultees to
develop and draft policies for the new Local Plan.
The council prepares the draft Local Plan which is subject to public
consultation.
Stage 3 Pre-Submission preparation and publication (Regulation 19) Within this period we will be analysing consultations responses, finalising
February 2023 - September 2023 evidence and supporting strategies and preparing the submission version of the
draft Local Plan. This will be published for formal representations prior to its
submission for examination.
Stage 4 Submission (Regulation 22) and The council submits the Local Plan to the Secretary of State together with the
Independent Examination Hearing representations (any comments) received at the Regulation 19 stage. The
Secretary of State will appoint a Planning Inspector to undertake an
October 2023 - August 2024 Independent Examination of the Local Plan.
Stage 5 Inspector’s Report Issued, followed by Adoption of the The Inspector’s Report will say if the Plan is ‘sound’ or ‘not sound’ and whether
&6 Local Plan it is legally compliant. The Inspector may make recommendations on how to
make the plan ‘sound’.
September 2024 The final stage is for the council to formally adopt the Local Plan.
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Appendix 2 - Risk Assessment
Work on preparing and implementing the Development Plan for the area is subject to regular review. There are a number of areas which may present risks
to the delivery of a Development Plan and key risks are identified below, together with potential risk reduction measures.
Key risks Risk Reduction Measures
Reduced staff resources The team is adequately resourced to undertake the preparation of the new Local Plan, and increased
resilience will be achieved by working collaboratively with other teams across the council.
Consultants will be used for specialist technical work where necessary.
Budgetary constraints Budget has been identified to prepare the new Local Plan. However, opportunities to undertake
joint commissioning will be pursued, where appropriate, with neighbouring authorities and also
evidence gathering that informs other council work.
ICT, Communications & Administration failure IT systems are in place to support the review, with back-up.
Duty to Cooperate Work collaboratively with neighbouring authorities and hold issue specific meetings to exchange
information and work on cross-boundary strategic development issues.
New legislation and political priorities New legislation, new policy or significant political changes that emerge during the review can require
new actions and additional work.
The emerging Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB) is now working its way through Parliament and
is proposing some significant changes to the current planning system.
We will closely monitor the progression of the LURB and the Local Development Scheme can be
reviewed if significant changes are necessary.
Documents being found unsound and subject Ensure work meets relevant legal requirements throughout Local Plan preparation.
to legal challenge Use soundness self-assessment tool kit. Ensure process records are kept.
