Prepared by the relevant plan-making authority. They will be spatial planning documents and subject to independent examination. There will be a right for those making representations seeking change to be heard at an independent examination.

Will set out the programme for the preparation of the local development documents. All plan-making authorities must submit a local development scheme to the First Secretary of State for approval within six months of the commencement date of the Act regardless of where they are in terms of their current development plan.

The transitional arrangements allow for existing adopted plans to be saved for three years from the date of commencement of the Act and for un-adopted plans to be saved for three years post adoption.

A person employed by the Planning Inspectorate to consider the appropriateness of planning policies, taking into account public consultation responses. 

National planning policy produced by the Government as part of the new system.   They represent Government policy and therefore hold more weight in determining planning decisions than the old planning Policy Guidance Notes

Prepared by a regional planning body. The regional spatial strategy is intended to set out the policies in relation to the development and use of land in a region.

Will set out the standards which the plan-making authority intend to achieve in relation to involving the community in the preparation, alteration and continuing review of all local development documents and in significant development control decisions, and also how the local planning authority intends to achieve those standards.

The statement of community involvement will not be a development plan document but will be subject to independent examination. A consultation statement showing how the local planning authority has complied with its statement of community involvement will be required for all local development documents.

Development which can be accommodated to meet the needs of the present without compromising the requirements of future generations.  This encompassing an understanding of the impact of development on social, environmental and economic factors.