UK: Development plans

United Kingdom

The Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) (Departures) Directions 1999 came into force on 30 August 1999 replacing the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Directions 1992 contained in Annex III to DoE Circular 19/92. The new Directions have been issued as DETR Circular 07/99, printed as Annex I, Policy Guidance on the Directions follows in Annex II. The Directions require certain planning applications which do not accord with the provisions of the development plan and which the local planning authority do not propose to refuse, to be notified to the Secretary of State. Only “significant departures”, as defined in the Circular should be notified. Examples of the types of development proposal which might be considered as a significant departure include major industrial development, retail, leisure, office or mixed commercial developments, major infrastructure projects, clinical or special waste incinerators, waste-to-energy power plants, grade I and II listed buildings, applications involving the loss of open space or playing fields and applications which require an environmental impact assessment.
(SO, August 1999)