A local development scheme (LDS) is published annually by each local authority responsible for formulating a local development plan. The LDS identifies the documents which will be produced in support of a local plan over the next three years. Upper tier authorities do not typically produce one – unless they are unitary and have responsibility for local plans. It is a forward-looking document.

Generally 5-15 pages in length, the LDS lists the current adopted planning documents (such as the Local Development Plan; Supplementary Planning Documents; Neighbourhood Plans; Area Action Plans; Strategic or Joint Plans), the details of when they were adopted, and if and when they are due to be reviewed. Summary background details are also normally included.

The document then typically sets out a schedule of planning documents which are being proposed over the next three years, stating which stage of plan making they are currently at and what comes next. There is also normally a visual timeline.

Most local authority websites have a dedicated page that holds a copy of the latest LDS and sometimes an archive of past versions by year.

A draft LDS requires discussion and approval from members at a public committee and is subsequently adopted on a certain date (usually within a few weeks of the committee meeting). This does mean that draft LDS reports can appear a month or two before adoption and, given that some authorities consistently publish them in the same month each year, this makes for a predictable source of early insight.

Uses

The main reason for reviewing or tracking the LDS document is to gain an idea of the expected timeline for the various stages of the local plan process including when it might be expected to be adopted. This can help inform those who are interested in writing representations at local plan consultation events, and can guide strategies for the submission of sites for allocation in the local plan or potentially for submitting a planning application – if the timing for the production of the local plan has bearing on this.

Further information

Contact John Gale or David Bainbridge

Savills Planning