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Neighbourhood Plans and the hierarchy of plans and policy

All development proposals which communities include in their Neighbourhood Plan must comply with local plans, known as Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Local plans

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is the collection of local development documents produced by the local planning authority which sets out the spatial planning strategy for its area. All LDFs will have to comply with the NPPF.

Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs) will be part of the LDF. They have to be consistent with the overall plan for the local authority, known as the Core Strategy. So Neighbourhood Plans cannot propose less growth than is proposed in the Core Strategy (thus not a vehicle for NIMBYism). But they can propose a higher level of growth and when a Neighbourhood Plan is approved by referendum this higher level would be incorporated in the LDF.

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

In parallel with the new legislation, the government is condensing all 1,000 pages of national guidance to local planning authorities (in 47 documents listed in the draft) into a 50 page document - to be finalized in April 2012. The key issue is that Neighbourhood Plans (like all other Development Plan Documents) will be required to contribute to the aim of achieving ‘sustainable development’.

The Localism Act does not define ‘sustainable development’ – but it is clear that the government intends to give a higher priority to development which promotes economic growth than social or environmental concerns. The controversy surrounding the competing definitions will be resolved by the final NPPF.