This development plan document (DPD) sets out precise areas of land to which proposals and policies set out in the core strategy will apply, with the proviso that “the identification of sites should be based on a robust and credible assessment of the suitability and availability of land” (PPS12 Companion Guide p.20). The document should not form part of the core strategy which will “allow authorities to update allocations in light of changes to other local development documents or implementation on the ground. It will be important for the site specific allocations document to set out clearly the links to relevant policies in other development plan documents” (PPS12 Companion Guide p.103). The PPS12 Companion Guide (p.103) provides the following checklist of good practice in preparing a site-specific allocations document:

• Hold discussions at an early stage with developers, landowners and the community to identify and consider their site-specific proposals.
• Consult on these proposals and assess alternative options (using the sustainability appraisal) to produce the preferred options document.
• Consult on the preferred options document, and consider any alternative proposals submitted as representations.
• In the submission development plan document set out a schedule for each allocation that:
• is linked clearly to the submission proposals map;
• sets out links to relevant policies in other development plan documents (which may include area action plans);
• specifies where and how supplementary planning documents will apply (e.g. planning brief); and
• provides details of any specific criteria for development (or sets out links to specific policies that provide relevant criteria) e.g. planning gain sought, accessibility thresholds.

• Keep the site specific allocations development plan document up-to-date in light of:
• changes to national policy or the regional spatial strategy;
• changes to other development plan documents and supplementary planning documents;
• implementation on the ground e.g. completion of specific developments; and
• information from the annual monitoring report regarding progress on policy implementation.

Back to Creating Local Policy