SEA IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDTUSE PLANNING

eplaced by a continuous process with scope for overlapping local development documents,an increased role for community involvement, and a requirement for a sustainability appraisalas an integral part of the local development framework production that should be started atan early stage and maintained throughout local development document preparation.Prior to 2004 the planning systems consisted of local or unitary development plansprepared by the local planning and structure plans, prepared by the county authorities. As thelocal development plans covered the area of one local authority, one or more local authoritiescould prepare unitary development plans for the planning area. The development plans werehowever not prescriptive and a local planning authority must also have regard to any othermaterial considerations such as government policy, when making a decision on development.6.6.2 Planning levels and main actorsThe Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act sets out two tier planning structure:Regional PlanningThe Regional Assembly is the Regional Planning Body (RPB) and prepares Regional SpatialStrategies (RSS) that set out policies relating to the development and land use for each of theEnglish regions (with the exception of London where the spatial development strategy isknown as the London Plan). The RSS sets out policy within areas such as healthcare,transport and housing.Local PlanningThe Local Planning Authorities (LPA) prepare Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) thatreplace Structure plans, Local Plans and Unitary Development Plans. The LDF is the nonstatutoryterm for the portfolio of local development documents; local development plandocuments, local development schemes, supplementary planning documents and a statementof community involvement which comprise the spatial planning strategy for a local planningauthority’s area. The LDF must conform to the RSS. The LPA must carry out an appraisal ofthe sustainability of the proposal in each of the Development Plan Documents and report thefindings (Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Chapter 5, Article 19). The CountyCouncils and some Unitary Authorities also prepare and maintain a minerals and wastedevelopment schemes. According to Milne and Cochrane (2004), the new act introduces anew plan-making regime that presents a major challenge for local planning authorities andprofessional planners at both local and regional levels. The new elements include therequirements of regional planning bodies that shall prepare regional spatial strategy (RSS) tobe prepared at the regional level. Below the regional level, there will be a new-look local planregime where the local planning authorities will prepare local development documents thatwill effectively replace local plans, unitary development plans and structure plans.87