What is the Local Development Scheme?
The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the main planning policy documents we will be producing over the next three years, and the timetable for preparation.
The LDS is a legal requirement. The 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (as amended by the 2011 Localism Act) requires us to set out which local development documents we will prepare, which of these are development plan documents, the area they will cover, whether they will be prepared with another authority and the timetable for their production. The LDS must be formally adopted by Authority. This version of the LDS was approved by the Planning Committee on 13 July 2023 and replaces the scheme published in July 2018.
What are our current plans?
The starting point for determining all planning applications in the North York Moors National Park is policy set out in our Development Plan. This refers to all formal documents that have been subject to consultation, examination and adoption by the National Park Authority as policy. At present our Development Plan comprises:
- The Local Plan (July 2020)
- The Whitby Business Park Area Action Plan (adopted in November 2014 and reviewed with no changes in October 2019)
- The Helmsley Local Plan (Adopted in July 2015 and reviewed with no changes in July 2022)
- The North Yorkshire, York and North York Moors Minerals and Waste Joint Plan (adopted in March 2022)
- The Ingleby Arncliffe Neighbourhood Plan (made in 2021). Only a small area (The Blue Bell Inn, two cottages and the modern farm buildings/grain store associated with Arncliffe Farm) is located within the National Park, the remainder being within the North Yorkshire Local Planning Authority area.
There are also a number of other supporting documents (known as Supplementary Planning Documents or SPDs) which provide further guidance on how policies will be applied:
- Renewable Energy (Adopted April 2010)
- The Design Guide (Adopted June 2008)
- The Osmotherley and Thimbleby Village Design Statement (adopted February 2011)
- The Hutton Buscel Village Design Statement (adopted June 2010)
- Ampleforth Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Supplementary Planning Document (adopted 2009)
- Oswaldkirk Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Supplementary Planning Document (adopted 2011).
What plans are we producing?
More details are in the document profiles below, but in summary we will be working on:
Local Plan review
Local plans are required to be reviewed every five years. The current Local Plan was adopted July 2020 and hence review does not need to start until July 2025. However, we will be starting to update the plan slightly earlier in late 2024.
The Design Code Supplementary Planning Document
It will be a requirement for planning authorities to produce a design code on enactment of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Codes will be part of the development plan and must include policies. This is likely to be sometime in 2024. In the meantime, our current design guides have been in place for some time and lack in detail in some areas, for example climate change and biodiversity net gain. To prepare for statutory design code and to update current guidance we are preparing a design code and intend to adopt it as a supplementary planning document prior to the bill being made in to law. We anticipate carrying out initial consultation on the design code in November 2023 with a view to completing it in October 2024.
The Dark Skies Supplementary Planning Document
This is currently being produced and a draft for consultation was agreed at Planning Committee on 18 May. It is currently out for consultation. We anticipate finalising and adopting this SPD in September 2023.
Other plans
The Whitby Business Park Area Action Plan was last reviewed with no changes in October 2019; a review (if needed) would need to commence in October 2024. Pending discussions with North Yorkshire Council and a review of the extent to which the plan has been implemented, we would anticipate that policy for that part of the Business Park within the National Park would be made through the revised Local Plan and Design Code.
Review on the Helmsley Local Plan would need to start in July 2027. Arrangements for review, if needed and subject to discussion with North Yorkshire Council will be set out in the next version of this scheme.
What other documents are relevant?
We are required to provide details of progress and review of all of our Local Development Documents(LDDs)within this Local Development Scheme. The following additional LDDs have been prepared and may also be of interest to anyone interested in how our planning policy is developing:
- The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). This document was adopted alongside this LDS in July 2023.
- This Local Development Scheme (LDS).
The Annual Report (AMR) makes up our final Local Development Document. Local authorities must prepare annual monitoring reports to cover a period of a minimum of 12 months and make such reports available to the public. These show how well an Authority’s planning policies are being implemented. We will aim to publish this Authority’s AMR in September each year.
Document profiles
Local Plan
We will be updating one Development Plan Document (The Local Plan) over the next few years. We anticipate that this will be a partial review of existing plan policies rather than a wholescale review. The Local Plan will need to be updated to consider more recent evidence and will also need to reflect the introduction of national development management policies.
Document title: The North York Moors National Park Local Plan 2024-39
Subject matter:Development management policies to help guide development over the period
Status: Development Plan Document.
Relationship to other plans and policies:When adopted the Local Plan will sit alongside other adopted Development Plan Documents, namely the Helmsley Local Plan (if still extant), the Whitby Business Park Area Action Plan (if still extant) and the Joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan. Where they overlap policies in each will be used to guide development. The Local Plan will be informed by four key policy influences – National Development Management Policies, the National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPF), the North York Moors National Park Management Plan and Local Economic Partnership Plans.
Area covered: The North York Moors National Park Authority Boundaries.
Timetable and milestones:
- Stage 1– Evidence gathering. We expect this to start in November 2024.
- Stage 2– We then anticipate carrying out consultation on options for updating the plan. This would fulfil requirements set out in Regulation 18 of the Local Plan Regulations. We expect this to start in June 2025.
- Stage 3 – We will then prepare and ask for views on the final draft of the revised plan. This is known as the Regulation 19 or ‘publication’ stage, where we present a final draft plan and collect comments for the independent examination. We expect this to happen in March 2026.
- Stage 4 – Submission to Government. We expect this to happen in June 2026.
- Stage 5 – Independent examination and adoption. (Known as the Regulation 22 to 26 stages.) We expect this to happen in August 2026 and January 2027.
Arrangements for production:Policy Team at National Park Authority (currently 1.8 FTE equivalent staff), drawing on support from Senior Management and the Development Management Team. External consultancy support to be brought in where necessary. Preparation of the Plan will be guided by the Development Plan Working Group comprising nine Park Authority Members.
Monitoring and review: Through the Annual Monitoring Report.
Design Code Supplementary Planning Document
Document title: Code Supplementary Planning Document.
Subject matter: Design principles and standards for new development in the North York Moors National Park.
Status: Local Development Document.
Relationship to other plans and policies: When adopted the SPD will directly support implementation of Local Plan Strategic Policy C – Quality and Design of New Development and the North York Moors National Park Management Plan.
Area covered: The North York Moors National Park Authority Boundaries.
Timetable and milestones: Work on the Design Code is already underway. We anticipate that the timetable will be:
Stage 1– Evidence gathering and research. This started December 2023 and will continue to August 2023.
Stage 2 – We then anticipate consulting on a ‘scoping stage,’ covering the format of the document, the selection of area types, a potential vision and setting out baseline information. We expect this to happen in November 2023.
Stage 3 – Preparation of the Design Code and consultation on the draft. After the preparation phase (to April 2024) we anticipate consultation will take place from June 2024.
Stage 4 – Adoption. We expect this to happen in October 2024.
Arrangements for production: Policy Team at National Park Authority (currently 1.8 FTE equivalent staff), drawing on support from Senior Management and the Development Management Team. Preparation of the SPD will be guided by the Development Plan Working Group comprising nine Park Authority Members.
Monitoring and review: Through the Annual Monitoring Report.
Dark Skies Supplementary Planning Document
Document title: Dark Skies Supplementary Planning Document.
Subject matter:Procedural guidance (lighting guidelines) to support implementation of Policy ENV 4 of the Local Plan – Dark Night Skies.
Status: Local Development Document.
Relationship to other plans and policies:Supports implementation of Policy ENV 4 of the Local Plan – Dark Night Skies and the North York Moors National Park Management Plan.
Area covered: The North York Moors National Park Authority Boundaries.
Timetable and milestones: This SPD is currently being produced and a draft for consultation was agreed at Planning Committee on 18 May and has since been consulted upon. We anticipate finalising and adopting this SPD in September 2023.
Arrangements for production: Policy Team at National Park Authority (currently 1.8 FTE equivalent staff), drawing on support from Senior Management and the Development Management Team. Preparation of the SPD will be guided by the Development Plan Working Group comprising nine Park Authority Members.
Monitoring and review: Through the Annual Monitoring Report.
Monitoring
Progress on the Local Development Scheme will be reviewed alongside the Authority Annual Monitoring Report. This will set out:
- Actual progress on documents against the milestones set out in the Local Development Scheme.
- The need for any adjustments to the timescales in the Local Development Scheme.
- The need for any new Development Documents to be prepared in response to changing circumstances identified in the Authority Report.