Chapter 1. Introduction
The role of the local plan
1.1. The primary role of the local plan is to guide and inform decisions on where and how development will take place in East Devon. It forms part of the Development Plan, which is the key basis for determining planning applications.
1.2. The Local Plan, and the Development Plan overall, must be read as a whole to understand complete policy coverage. We have avoided replicating matters in different plan policies where a single policy reference addresses the relevant consideration.
1.3. The East Devon Local Plan covers the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2042. Upon adoption, it will supersede, in their entirety, the East Devon Local Plan adopted in 2016 and the Villages Plan adopted in 2018.
1.4. On adoption this local plan, the Cranbrook Plan, made Neighbourhood Plans and waste and mineral plans produced by Devon County Council will make up the Development Plan for East Devon. This local plan provides planning policy coverage for selected matters within the Cranbrook Plan area. The adopted Cranbrook Plan remains part of the Development Plan1 and is the primary plan for determining planning applications at Cranbrook. However many policies in this new local plan will also apply within the Cranbrook Plan area and should be applied alongside Cranbrook Plan policies which will remain in place as part of the Development Plan. Where policies in this plan apply to parts of or the whole of the Cranbrook Plan area this is specified in policy, and with the exception of allocation policies that fall outside of the West End as are cases where any policy does not apply.
1 OTE-001 - Cranbrook Plan DPD 2013-2031, https://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/cranbrookplan/adopted-cranbrook-plan-dpd-2013-2031/#article-content
Strategic and non-strategic policies and the Policies Map
1.5. The plan differentiates between strategic and non-strategic policies, as advised to do so by the National Planning Policy Framework.
1.6. Strategic Policies set out the overarching approach and deal with major subject matters fundamental to decision-making or setting a general tone.
1.7. Non-strategic policies typically add an extra layer of detail to inform decision-making.
1.8. Strategic policies are denoted with the word ‘Strategic’ in the title, while all other policies are non-strategic. Neighbourhood Plans and their policies can supersede nonstrategic policies but not strategic policies.
East Devon Local Plan – Proposed Publication plan – Text for committee consideration – 4
1.9. Many policies refer to specific locations or areas defined on the Local Plan Policies Map.2
2 Key Facts
2 CSD-002 – Local Plan Policies Map, EDDC Local Plan 2020 to 2042
The role of and relationships with neighbouring planning
1.10. Neighbourhood planning is actively supported by the District Council, with 27 made plans at the time of plan Publication. Activity to prepare and review plans is expected to increase with the adoption of the new Local Plan.
1.11. After adoption, neighbourhood plans will be tested for conformity with local plan strategic policies and can add local specificity or supersede non-strategic policies if needed. Once made, they become part of the statutory Development Plan, and development decisions should align with them.
1.12. We encourage developers to consider the aims and policies of relevant neighbourhood plans and engage with local communities at an early stage when preparing planning applications. The new Local Plan will supersede conflicting neighbourhood plan policies but otherwise, existing plans and their policies will remain in effect until replaced.
1.13. Information about neighbourhood plans in East Devon is available on the Council’s website.3
3 OTE-002 - Neighbourhood Plans in East Devon, https://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planningpolicy/neighbourhood-and-community-plans/neighbourhood-plans/