Forward Planning - Planning Policy

Dartmoor National Park Authority is the Local Planning Authority for the whole of the National Park and has to prepare and maintain an up to date 'Local Plan' or Development Plan for the area.  The policies in the Local Plan are the basis for making decisions on planning applications in the National Park.  Other documents and plans at a local level such as Supplementary Planning Documents, and Community Plans are also important in linking with the Local Plan, and can also be relevant or 'material considerations' in decision making.   The 'Local Plan' for Dartmoor is currently made up of several different documents, as the 2004 Local Plan is replaced.  For ease of reference we have prepared a list of current development plan policies (PDF Help 38kb)

National Policy

	Document	Status	Additional Information
	National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (external link, opens in new window)	Current	The NPPF was published in March 2012. The NPPF must be taken into account in the preparation of local and neighbourhood plans, and is a material consideration in planning decisions.

 The 'Local Plan' (Development Plan)

	Document	Status	Additional Information
	Core Strategy	Adopted	Adopted in April 2008 the Core Strategy DPD is the principal document in the Development Plan, setting out the vision for development in the National Park and a strategy and policies to help meet that vision. It must be read together with the Local Plan for a complete picture of current policy.
	Local Plan	Adopted (part superseded)	The 2004 Local Plan contains a number of saved policies that will be replaced when the Development Management DPD is adopted.  Until that time the Local Plan and Core Strategy contain current adopted policies.
	Development Management DPD	Currently in examination (not yet adopted).	The 'DMD' contains detailed policies for making planning decisions and  identifies areas of land in the larger settlements that could provide for development in the future. When adopted it will replace the remaining policies in the Local Plan.
	Minerals DPD	Not started	Dartmoor National Park Authority is the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority for the National Park.  Current policies are contained in the Minerals and Waste local Plan (at the rear of the 2004 Local Plan) and Core Strategy.

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD)

	Document	Status	Additional Information
	Design Guide	Adopted	The Design Guide provides detailed guidance to carry forward the more general design and sustainable development policies of the Local Plan.
	Affordable Housing	Initial research	The Affordable Housing SPD will provide greater clarity, detail or definition to support the delivery of affordable housing in the National Park.

Local Development Documents (LDD)

	Document	Status	Additional Information
	Local Development Scheme (LDS)	Current	The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the timetable for the preparation of the Local Plan.
	Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)	Current	The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out our plans for involving the public in preparing the Local Plan, and when considering planning applications.
	Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)	Current	The AMR sets out the progress against the Local Development Scheme (LDS), assesses the effectiveness of the policies in the Local Plan.

Community Led Planning 

Community Led Planning

Community plans such as Community Strategies, Parish Plans and Neighbourhood Plans play an important role in setting out community aspirations, and can be relevant or 'material' considerations in planning decisions.

How can you get involved?

All of the documents which form part of the development plan will be available on this web site.  

Each element of the development plan (other than the Local Development Scheme, and Annual Monitoring Report) will be subject to public consultation.  At each stage of consultation the Authority will follow the procedure set out in the Statement of Community Involvement.  Opportunity will be given for those who wish to make representations of support or objection to the Authority to do so, and for those representations to be sent electronically to the Authority if you wish.  Further details of all consultation will appear on the planning pages of the Authority's web site at the appropriate time, you can keep informed of current consultations by following the Dartmoor National Park Authority on Twitter and subscribing to Dartmoor National Park Authority news.