Development Plan Documents (DPDs)

Local Development Plan Documents are the documents within the Local Development Framework that contain the policies and allocations of land. The DPDs contained in the Hart Local Development Framework are:

• A Core Strategy – containing the spatial vision, objectives and broad strategic policies
• Development Control Policies – to guide development by setting the criteria by which planning applications will be assessed
• Site Specific Allocations – the specific sites where it is proposed that development takes place during the Framework period
• A Proposals Map

The Council is required to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of each DPD and SPD that it prepares.

Main stages in the process for preparing DPDs:

Stage 1: Pre-Production: In order to develop a sound understanding of the current and future local issues, a comprehensive evidence base is gathered.

Stage 2: Issues & Options Consultation (Reg 25): The preparation of a document which sets out the 'Issues & Options' relevant to the DPD topic. The local community and stakeholders must be consulted on this document. (Please refer to the Statement of Community Involvement for Hart DC's consultation procedures)

Stage 3: Preferred Options Consultation (Reg 26): The responses to the Issues & Options document are analysed and a document which sets out the 'Preferred Options' relevant to the DPD topic, and,what any alternative options might be, is produced.  The local community and stakeholders are then consulted again on this ‘Preferred Options’ document.

Stage 4: Submission (Reg 28): The responses from the Preferred Options consultation are analysed and a 'Submission' version of the DPD document is produced. Objections to this document can now only be made on the grounds of 'tests of soundness'.

Stage 5: Examination: All DPDs must be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination along with the representations made at the Reg 28 stage. The tests at examination which the DPD will have to meet to be ‘sound’ are set out in Planning Policy 12 (PPS12).

Stage 6: Adoption: The Inspector’s report will set out recommendations for the DPD which will be binding upon the Council. Once the authority has integrated the changes, it will be adopted.

Further information regarding Development Plan Documents and their context within the Local Development Framework can be found in Planning Policy Statement 12 (PPS12).

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