Planning Policy

The Policy and Development section is primarily responsible for the preparation of planning policy documents for the District.

Local Plan (Previously known as the Local Development Framework)

The Wealden Local Plan is a collection of planning documents that will guide how development takes place in Wealden and eventually replace the Adopted Wealden Local Plan 1998 and the Non Statutory Wealden Local Plan 2005. 

The Core Strategy was considered for adoption and approved by Wealden District Full Council on 28 November 2012 and the South Downs National Park Authority on 19 February 2013.

The Proposed Submission Strategic Sites Local Plan was presented to the Cabinet LDF Sub Committee on 27 February 2013. It is expected to be published for public representations in summer 2013.

Former Local Plans

Information concerning former Local Plans prepared by the Council, which include the saved policies of the Adopted Wealden Local Plan 1998 and material consideration of the Non Statutory Wealden Local Plan 2005.

National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012. This is a key part of Government reforms to make the planning system less complex and more accessible, to protect the environment and to promote sustainable growth. 

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

Representations on the Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule were sought for a six week period between Monday 13 August 2012 until 5pm on Friday 21 September 2012.  These representations can be viewed and downloaded from the CIL Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule page of our website.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) came into force in April 2010. It allows local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area. The money can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development. CIL will replace, in the majority of cases, the current mechanism of securing infrastructure planning obligations through Section 106 agreements and will need to be in place by April 2014.

Neighbourhood Planning

The Localism Act (2011) has introduced a new, local tier to the planning system called neighbourhood planning. This allows local communities the option of producing a Neighbourhood Development Plan, a Neighbourhood Development Order, or a Community Right to Build Order for their area. It provides communities with a more direct means of shaping development in their local areas. For the first time, neighbourhood planning provides communities with the opportunity to produce plans for their local area which are statutory (legally prescribed) and which will sit alongside the Districts local plan as part of the formally adopted development plan.

South East Plan (external link)

The Regional Strategy for the South East (Partial Revocation) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/427) came into force on 25 March 2013. The Order revokes the Regional Strategy for the South East except for policy NRM6:Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area of the South East Plan Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East of England, published in May 2009. The Order also revokes remaining structure plan policies in the region.

Further information about the planning system, including links to National Planning Policy documents can be found on the Planning Portal (external link) or Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website (external link).

Planning Policy Publications

List of Publications and that can be viewed/downloaded online and purchased.