Council submits latest key planning document
Date Published : 19 January 2006
People living in Walsall have moved another step towards making a greater contribution to how their neighbourhoods are developed as Government experts consider a key part of Walsall Council’s blueprint for change.
Council planners have successfully submitted a Local Development Framework document, that will help track the benefits being brought to the borough, for approval from the Government Office for the West Midlands.
The Annual Monitoring Report will highlight the authority’s progress in preparing various documents for the framework and its success in putting planning policies and proposals into practice.
Policies and proposals for land use and transportation are currently covered by the Unitary Development Plan, which provides the basis for decisions on planning applications. This will ultimately be replaced in a few years by the Local Development Framework.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Walsall Council is working hard on the Local Development Framework, as a result of Government changes to the planning system.
“Whilst our Unitary Development Plan helps guide development in Walsall at the moment, it is important we continue our progress on the key documents that will secure the success of the Local Development Framework.”
Each planning authority’s Local Development Framework will be continually reviewed and revised to ensure it is working effectively.
These ongoing reviews need monitoring information, which is the purpose of the Annual Monitoring Report. The new planning act requires each local planning authority to produce such a document each year.
The report will track the policies and proposals of the current Walsall Unitary Development Plan until it is replaced. It will feed into the process of planning the Local Development Framework. A physical copy of the document is also available for inspection at the First Stop Shop at the Civic Centre.