The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 laid out new provisions for the replacement of Local Plans with Local Development Frameworks (LDF). This is a new system, which removes Structure Plans at County level, and replaces them with Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS). RSS are prepared by the Regional Planning Body, which in our case is the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA). Further details of this new planning system can be found from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
Maidstone Borough Council has begun the preparation of its Local Development Framework. Guidelines for the LDF preparation are set down by the Government in Planning Policy Statement 12 (PPS12). The Plan Making Manual accompanies PPS12 and includes good practice examples and guidance on the LDF regulations. The first document prepared under the new LDF was a project management plan, or timetable, known as the Local Development Scheme (LDS).
More information on documents in the LDF will be available as they are prepared, on this website, or you can contact the Planning Policy team on 01622 602234 or ku.vog.enotsdiam@REMOVEMEfdl
The Loose Road Character Area Assessment and London Road Character Area Assessment Supplementary Planning Documents will undergo a 6-week formal public consultation from 15th August to 26th September 2008. Due to the summer holiday period, the Council is publishing the documents earlier, and they can be viewed and downloaded from the list of published documents below. The Council is encouraging the public to make comments on these documents at its online consultation page.