Local Plan

What is a local plan

A local plan sets out a vision and a framework for the future development of an area, addressing needs and opportunities in relation to housing, the economy, community facilities and infrastructure – as well as a basis for safeguarding the environment, adapting to climate change and securing good design.

​Ideally borough councils prepare local plans in consultation with residents. However, in reality consultation only happens after sites have been selected and even if local councils object on very sound grounds a 1600 house development is more likely to go ahead than a garage conversion!

TMBC Local Plan

Having a local plan is a legal requirement of all Councils and TMBC have do not currently have one, which opens the door to any landowner to submit land for development and get it passed for approval. Once the local plan is approved, it is literally a plan for where development will happen in TMBC until 2035 or thereabouts.  This means where houses will be built, industry, retail etc etc. These “designations” as they are known are crucial.

How are they used

Local plans are:

• tailored to the needs of each area in terms of their strategy and the policies required.

• focused on the key issues that need to be addressed and be aspirational but realistic in what they propose.

• a critical tool in guiding decisions about individual development proposals

• the starting-point for considering whether applications can be approved

• intended to make clear what will happen in the area over the life of the plan, where and when this will occur and how it will be delivered.

Against Bradbourne and the TMBC Local Plan

Against Bradbourne and the TBMC Local Plan

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