How do they affect me ?

What Development Plans Can Do:

Development plans allow local planning authorities to manage development in their area and to set out the factors they will take into account when deciding planning applications. Generally, plans will aim to:

• Guide and promote development and ensure sufficient land is available to meet the expected need for such uses as employment and housing
• Ensure that development takes place in the most sustainable way i.e. it minimises the impact on the present environment and maximises the opportunities available in the future
• Protect existing assets such as recreation areas, wildlife and buildings of special interest
• Improve the quality of the physical environment
• Give a degree of certainty to landowners, developers and the public as to the likely future pattern of development in their area
• Bring issues before local people and provide opportunities for public participation
  

Overall, plans will aim to balance different and possibly conflicting demands on land and the environment.

What the Development Plans Cannot Do:

Development plans cannot require that the proposed development takes place and cannot guarantee what the land will be used for in the future. Also, they can only deal with land-use issues as defined in legislation. For example, they can deal with the provision of open space (e.g. a play area) but not its management. Also, they cannot address local authority services such as refuse collection or prevent competition between businesses.