Adopted Core Strategy

The Core Strategy forms the central document of the Local Development Framework (LDF), establishing the vision, underlying objectives and key principles that will guide the development of the area to 2028.

The Core Strategy was adopted by the Council on 16 December 2014 and now forms part of the statutory Development Plan for the Borough. More information can be found by viewing The adopted Core Strategy. It sets out the strategic planning policy framework to guide development in the borough up to 2028.  It also includes development management policies to assist in the determination of individual planning applications.

 The information below relates to previous stages in the plan’s preparation and is provided for information purposes only:

The Core Strategy was subject to a number of consultation stages and details can be found on the Planning Policy Consultation pages. 

The Council submitted the Core Strategy to the Secretary of State in September 2012. Details of the submission can be found on the Submission page. 

Following evidence base updates requested by the Planning Inspectorate the Core Strategy was subject to an Examination in Public in January 2014. For more information see the Core Strategy and the Public Examination Information.

A post hearings consultation took place from 23 May to 7 July 2014 on Proposed main modifications to submitted Core Strategy.

Further consultation on the Proposed Main Modifications (and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal Addendum) commenced on 25 July 2014 and ran until 5 September 2014. All relevant material from this consultation was then sent to the Inspectorate.

On 2 December 2014 the Inspector's Report on the legal compliance and and soundness of the Core Strategy was published. It concludes that the strategy is legally compliant and sound subject to a number of main modifications being made.

Having received and published the report the Council adopted the Core Strategy (including the modifications recommended by the Inspector) on 16 December 2014. More information can be found by viewing The adopted Core Strategy.