Our Core Strategy sets out the overall planning vision and framework for the city from 2006 to 2021 and beyond. It was formally adopted by Full Council on 23 April 2007.
The Core Strategy is about how land is used and considers how places work, how people get around, the services available to them and the communities they're part of. It includes an outline for delivering strategic development needs for Plymouth's future, including housing, employment, leisure and retail. All other development plan documents must conform to the Core Strategy.
The Core Strategy was adopted by Full Council on 23 April 2007.
Inspector's letter and report
Before the Core Strategy could be adopted, an independent Inspector was appointed by the Secretary of State to examine the 'soundness' of the submitted Core Strategy. The Inspector reported back to the Council on 3 April 2007 stating that the Core Strategy was sound with agreed changes.
Additional documents submitted for the Core Strategy public examination:
The degree of conformity of housing and employment provision with the Structure Plan RSS
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, Taylor Woodrow Development Ltd.
Whether the assumption on housing growth and locations are sound and sufficiently justified
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, Wharfside Regeneration Ltd, the National Trust, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Woodrow Development Ltd.
Whether the assumptions on employment growth and land supply are sound and sufficiently justified
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, Wharfside Regeneration Ltd, Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd.
Whether the area visions and strategies are appropriately detailed, linked and prioritised
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, Wharfside Regeneration Ltd, Persimmon Homes, Mr G Ackers, Mr Osborne, Dawnan Ltd and Mr R J Rees.
Whether the retail strategy is supported by appropriate evidence
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, Wharfside Regeneration Ltd, Leonara Estates (Plymouth) Ltd, Plymouth and South West Co-operative Society, Dawnan Ltd, Walker Developments (South West) Ltd.
Whether the appropriate level of affordable housing and other special needs housing will be delivered
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, South Hams District Council, Sunnybank Homes.
Whether the public transport provisions are credible and likely to deliver more sustainable transport choices
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, Highways Agency, Wharfside Regeneration Ltd, Plymouth and South West Co-operative.
Whether cross border transportation issues are properly considered
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, Highways Agency, Mr Rodgers, Plymouth and South West Co-operative.
Whether sufficient encouragement and incentive is given to reduce the city's carbon footprint, and whether flood risk is sufficiently considered
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, The Environment Agency.
To what extent, if at all, should airport expansion be encouraged, having regard to the need to reduce carbon emissions
Attended by Planning Inspector, Plymouth City Council, The Environment Agency, Plymouth Green Party.
The Core Strategy has been submitted to the Secretary of State.
The public examination took place from 30 January 2007. The Inspector's report was received on 3 April 2007.
Public examination
The examination started on 30 January 2007 and was based on the matters identified by the Inspector below:
Matters discussed at the public examination:
- The degree of conformity of housing and employment provision with the structure plan RSS
- Whether the assumption on housing growth and locations are sound and sufficiently justified
- Whether the assumptions on employment growth and land supply are sound and sufficiently justified
- Whether the area visions and strategies are appropriately detailed, linked and prioritised
- Whether the retail strategy is supported by appropriate evidence
- Whether the appropriate level of affordable housing and other special needs housing will be delivered
- Whether the public transport provisions are credible and likely to deliver more sustainable transport choices
- Whether cross border transportation issues are properly considered
- Whether sufficient encouragement and incentive is given to reduce the city's carbon footprint, and whether flood risk is sufficiently considered
- To what extent, if at all, should airport expansion be encouraged, having regard to the need to reduce carbon emissions
Documents submitted to the Inspector during this time are available on the public examination page.
Pre-examination meeting
The purpose of the pre-examinations meetings is to provide an opportunity for procedural and administrative matters relating to the examinations to be explained and discussed. The pre-examination meeting is an opportunity for you to raise any issues that may be causing concern, but it will not be the right time for a discussion on the merits of the representations made.
The pre-examination meeting was held on Tuesday 28 November 2007 at 10am in the Council House.
A Core Strategy preferred options report was produced as part of the second stage of preparing Plymouth's Local Development Framework (LDF), built on the earlier issues and options consultation stage (Spring 2005).
The report sets out (for consultation) our proposed policy directions and highlights alternatives where appropriate. The report will be a material consideration in the development control process.
Where there's a conflict between the preferred policy direction set out in this report and the provisions of Plymouth's First Deposit Local Plan, this report will take precedence.
Key changes to the preferred options
The document below sets out the key changes we've proposed since the original Core Strategy preferred options report, published in July 2005. This report outlines the preferred policy directions, and highlights alternatives where appropriate. The key changes consulted on relate to: transport, shopping, employment, and future development in Derriford area. In addition, it includes sections on environment and social issues. The consultation period ran from 13 April to 25 May 2006.
In order to inform this document we commissioned eight new background studies:
Plymouth Employment Land Review
Plymouth Strategic High Quality Public Transport Network Report
Plymouth's Eastern Corridor Public Transport Study
Plymouth Flood Risk Assessment
North Plymouth Sustainable Community Assessment
Plymouth Economic Vision and Strategy
These documents have been produced as a part of the first stage in preparing Plymouth's new Local Development Framework (LDF).