Transforming Walsall - Opportunities
Development Briefs
Why are planning and development briefs prepared?
- Planning and development briefs are prepared to give discrete detailed pre-planning application guidance to potential developers on the future development of land.
- Briefs support the general policy advice set out in the Council’s approved Unitary Development Plan (UDP). They are used to clarify planning policy and its application to a specific site, and provide design guidance responding to the particular characteristics of a site or its surroundings where necessary. Briefs may be either statutory or non-statutory documents.
- Planning and development briefs are a “material planning consideration’* in determining planning applications. The weight given to the brief will increase if it has been prepared in consultation with the public and been the subject of a Council resolution.
- The most common purpose of preparing briefs is to support the marketing of land in Council ownership which has been declared surplus to its requirements, or where Council land forms part of a larger site where land assembly is required in order to bring forward development.
* Any consideration relevant to the use and development of land and which may be taken into account when assessing a planning application.
When are briefs prepared?
The decision on whether or not to prepare a brief will depend on a number of factors:
- Whether local Councillors are concerned that a brief is needed on a particular site.
- Whether a site is due for disposal by the Council. The complexity of issues involved.
- Whether public consultation is appropriate prior to submission of a planning application.
- Whether there is a particular emphasis on promoting development.
What items are included in the briefs?
Development briefs describe in more detail the main applicable planning policies, appropriate design and transportation requirements for the site along with any constraints. This may include requirements regarding any proposed development in terms of its access, layout, density, landscaping, open space and the design of buildings. Some briefs include additional guidance on mix of house types, height of buildings and/or protection/management of important features.
What process is followed?
The views of the relevant Council service areas together with those of external service providers, agencies and specialist advisers are sought. A brief is then drafted for consideration by Ward Councillors prior to consultation with the community directly affected. These Councillors would be consulted on the scale of the consultation proposed and extent of the surrounding area where consultation would take place. Typically, consultees would include landowners and occupiers, tenants, residents and businesses (both of the site, the surrounding land and in close proximity), local community and interest groups.
Useful Documents
Useful Links
- View Consultation on Development Briefs
- View Monitoring Equality and Diversity during consultation on development briefs
- View Past Development Briefs
- View Current Development Briefs
Adobe PDF
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Contact us
Regeneration Development Team
2nd Floor, Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1TP
Telephone 01922 652491
Fax 01922 652535
Email lockwooddavid@walsall.gov.uk