Local Development Scheme (LDS)

The Local Development Scheme (LDS) is a public statement outlining a council’s timetable for preparing development plan documents, including local plans, to be used in the determination of planning applications within a specific area.

Plan preparation timetable

Subject to the release of the local plan regulations under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, it is anticipated that the timetable for plan preparation will align with the new plan making timetable of 30 months from project initiation to adoption

Stage of process Target Dates
Scoping 4 months Sept 25 – Jan 26
Plan visioning and strategy development 23 months Feb 26 – Jul 26
Evidence gathering and drafting the plan Aug 26 – May 27
Engagement, proposing changes, submission Jun 27 - Dec 27
Examination 6 months Jan 28 – Jun 28
Finalisation and adoption of digital plan 1 month Jul 28

Prior to commencing with formal plan preparation, the following pieces of work may be undertaken:

  • Review of the Statement of Community Involvement
  • Capacity study to explore the growth potential beyond designated landscapes
  • Conversations with partners on matters of strategic interest
  • Call for sites exercise to understand land availability to meet various identified needs
  • Scoping for evidence base documents and potential commissioning of evidence to support the early stages of plan preparation.