We are currently producing the LDF which will be made up of a number of different planning policy documents, known as local development documents (LDD). These will consider a variety of planning issues, combining to set out the council's policies for the future development of the borough.

The council is currently unable to agree a revised LDS with the Government Office for the South West due to further changes to the planning system.

In the interim, the main priorities up to 2013 are likely to be production of:

• The Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy (joint document)

• The Dorset Heathland Joint DPD (joint document)

• The Christchurch and East Dorset Site Specific Allocations DPD (joint document)

• The Gypsy & Traveller Sites DPD (joint document)

The council has also published its Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which sets out how the public and stakeholders will be involved in the LDF and on planning applications. An Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) is published in December each year and reviews the performance of policies in the Christchurch Local Plan (2001), as well as monitoring key performance indicators.

Partnership working

The council's planning policy team prides itself on working in partnership with others. Work on the Local Development Framework is being carried out in partnership with East Dorset District Council, and the Core Strategy and Site Specific Allocations DPD will be joint documents. The Dorset Heathland Joint DPD is a document being prepared with four other councils across South East Dorset and the Gypsy & Traveller Sites DPD is a Dorset-wide document.

Evidence gathering

The team has already completed a number of significant studies to inform the evidence base for the LDF. These include:

• An Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment

• An Employment Land Review (Stages 1 - 2 not published) 

• A Strategic Housing Market Assessment

• A Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

• A Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

• A Joint Retail Study

• An Economic Study of Development Land at Bournemouth Airport

• Affordable Housing Development Viability Study

• Christchurch Urban Extension - (Core Strategy Policy & Master Planning Document)

• Green Infrastructure Study

• Airport Ecological Study

Background 'Key Issues' Papers

The LDF team (jointly with East Dorset Council's Forward Planning Team) has produced a set of detailed background Core Strategy Options for Consideration - key issue papers which provide a summary of the key drivers, policies and evidence which has led to the identification of issues to be addressed by the Core Strategy.

A formal period of consultation on Preferred Options on the Core Strategy has commenced and will end on 14 January 2011. 

Stay informed

Some important decisions have to be made about what Christchurch will be like in the period up to 2026, and the council needs as many people as possible to be involved in planning the future of the area.  The LDF interest reply form (PDF, 111kb) (opens in a new window) provides you with an opportunity to get involved and to let us know how you prefer to be contacted.

• Community & Planning Policy Manager
  Name: Simon Trueick
  Email: strueick@christchurchandeastdorset.gov.uk
  Tel: 01202 495038
  Fax: 01202 495108
  Full details for Simon Trueick