Planning: Development Management Plan

Plan for sustainable development adopted

17/12/14

Rochford District Council has adopted a plan to ensure the building of appropriate, sustainable development in the future.

The Development Management Plan sets out the detailed day-to-day policies by which planning applications will be assessed.

The document was approved at a Full Council meeting on Tuesday, December 16 and includes policies for new homes, housing extension limits on the Green Belt and equestrian facilities.

This plan, which has previously been approved by a Government Inspector, will now sit beneath the Core Strategy and alongside the Allocations Plan.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning, Cllr Ian Ward, said: “This plan will be the basis on which we assess day-to-day planning applications in the future. It will ensure that we have sustainable homes with the right infrastructure - and that we retain the character of our District – of which we are so proud.  Without this plan, the council would be reliant on the National Planning Policy Framework to make decisions, as opposed to policies that reflect local aspirations. This could mean that developments are approved which are not in the best interests of the District, for example in terms of the size of extensions to homes in the Green Belt, the provision of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs) to combat flooding issues, and the conversion of neighbourhood shops. This plan should prevent any ‘monstrosities’ from being built in the Rochford District – while also meeting the future needs of our residents.”

To view copy go to http://www.rochford.gov.uk/sites/rochford.gov.uk/files/documents/files/planning_jaap_dpdadopted.pdf