Wealden Local Plan Review

First Deposit Draft of the Wealden Local Plan

This is available on-line as downloadable documents and also as a map-based Interactive system. This enables users locate maps by postcode and identify the relevant policies.

Over 6,500 individual objections and representations were received in response to the First Deposit Draft Plan. These have been catalogued, analysed and considered by the Wealden Local Plan Review Special Review Committee (WLPRSR). A searchable database has been created of the summaries of the objections and representations. The officer's comments considered by WLPRSR Committee and the Committee's susbsequent recommendations can also be viewed.

View the reports considered by the Committee.

Revised Draft of the Wealden Local Plan (November 2004)

The Revised Draft Plan was published for a 6 week consultation period on 1st November 2004. Valid representations were considered by the Wealden Local Plan Review Special Review Committee on 24th February, 4th April and 10th May 2005

All of the recommendations of the Wealden Local Plan Review Special Review Committee were considered by a joint meeting of the Development Control North (DCN) and Develoment Control South (DCS) Committees on 20th May 2005, and by the Council's Cabinet on 27th June 2005.

The recommendations on the Plan were reported to the Council for consideration at two meetings held on 9th November 2005 and 14th December 2005.

The Revised Draft Plan can still be downloaded/viewed on-line. A map-based Interactive system is also available.

Judicial Review

In September 2004, Wealden District Council received a claim for Judicial Review in respect of its decision to discontinue the process of producing a statutory local plan and in its place produce a Revised (Non-Statutory) Plan for the purposes of development control. The Court was requested to quash this decision with a view to the Council being required to hold a public local inquiry to hear objections to the emerging statutory plan.

The Judge ruled in favour of the claimants and overturned the Council's decision to produce a non-statutory local plan. The Council appealed the judgment and the Court of Appeal heard the case on 23rd and 24th June 2005.

The Court issued its judgment on 31st October 2005 when it allowed the Council’s appeal. Accordingly the Council are not required to pursue the making of a statutory local plan to a public inquiry and can therefore continue with the non-statutory plan.

The Court of Appeal’s judgment is available on-line at the following website:

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2005/1221.html

The Court of Appeal refused the Claimants’ application for permission to appeal to the House of Lords.

Non-Statutory Wealden Local Plan 2005

At its meeting on 14th December 2005, the Council approved the non-statutory Plan as an Interim Guide for Development Control purposes. The Council will not now progress this Plan any further through its statutory process and it will not therefore be taken through a Local Plan Inquiry to formal adoption. This will enable the Council to embark upon the production of its Local Development Framework as required by the Government.

Background Papers and Supplementary Planning Guidance

View the Background Papers and Supplementary Planning Guidance which are of relevance to the Wealden Local Plan Review.