Thursday 05 January 2023
The Development & Planning Authority (DPA) has acted to streamline the planning requirements for Development Frameworks by further increasing the thresholds for when these documents are required.
A Development Framework is a planning document produced by professional Planners within the Planning Service at the beginning of the development process and adopted by the DPA following consultation. It provides an interpretation of planning policies and guides development proposals for a site or area.
Following an increase in the thresholds for Development Frameworks in May 2021, the DPA has now removed the requirement for a Development Framework for housing proposals of less than 30 dwellings in the Main Centres and Main Centre Outer Areas, and less than 15 dwellings in the Local Centres. The previous thresholds, as introduced in May 2021, were set at 20 and 10 dwellings respectively and represented an increase from those originally introduced on adoption of the Island Development Plan (IDP) in 2016.
The policy intention of the IDP is that Development Frameworks should be used before a planning application is made for larger and more complex development schemes to ensure they are comprehensively planned and make effective and efficient use of land, as well as allowing for public consultation and engagement at an early stage in the development process.
DPA President, Deputy Victoria Oliver said:
"The DPA continually considers how it can work to streamline the planning process within existing legislation and States' policy. When the thresholds for Development Frameworks were increased in May 2021, we saw stimulated development activity within the housing market. Having considered this and received feedback from other States' Committees and stakeholders, we've decided to further increase these thresholds.
"The IDP was written with an overriding ethos to be proactive, positive and enabling, and this is a great example of how the wording of the Plan affords flexibility to make changes like this to help facilitate appropriate development.
"I am pleased that this is another tangible action on the part of the DPA to promote housing, which is the number one priority of the States at this time. We will still ensure that appropriate consultation with the community takes place on development proposals through the planning application process and that the views of the public are listened to."
A Development Framework will still be required for housing developments of 30 or more dwellings in the Main Centres and Main Centre Outer Areas and 15 or more dwellings in Local Centres, and for other sites or forms of development where a Development Framework is currently required under the IDP.
However, the DPA will retain discretion to waive the requirement for a Development Framework for other sites where it does not consider that it would be beneficial, or to require a Development Framework for housing sites falling below the new thresholds if it considers that particularly complex issues exist which cannot be satisfactorily addressed only through the planning application process.
