Local Authority Core Strategies update and analysis
Date: March 2010Local authorities in the Bristol area are currently in the process of drawing up their Core Strategies. This follows the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which requires each local planning authority to replace its Local Plan with a Local Development Framework (LDF). The Core Strategies will be the primary planning document within each local authority’s LDF.
FOSBR has recently responded to consultations about their draft Core Strategies by Bristol City Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council and North Somerset Council. South Gloucestershire has recently opened consultation on its draft Core Strategy.
At FOSBR’s AGM in January, concern was expressed that the Core Strategies of the four local authorities appear to be less favourable to rail than the Local Plans they will replace. We have investigated this, and referred to Local Plan policies in our response to the draft Core Strategies where appropriate. As a matter of principle, Core Strategies are supposed to be less detailed than Local Plans. Further detail may be provided in due course by Supplementary Planning Documents. Although Core Strategies are intended to replace Local Plans, it is possible for a local authority to save policies from its Local Plan that it wishes to continue to be effective. A local authority must apply to the Government for permission to do this.
Saved policies
FOSBR responses