Planning Policy
The Planning Policy team is responsible for looking at the allocation of land for the next 20 - 25 years and creating a context of policies which are used as a basis for deciding planning applications. These decisions all form part of the Development Plan.
View our Consultation Portal - once registered, you can view all the current planning policy documents currently out for public consultation and make comments online. The system will automatically notify you when new planning consultations occur.
The Local Development Framework
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced Local Development Documents (LDDs). Together, the LDDs will comprise a Local Development Framework (LDF) for the district authority area. Please see the Local Development Framework page for more information. The most important document in this suite is the Core Strategy.
What is the Core Strategy?
Your views will help us prepare a Core Strategy for the Borough. The Core Strategy is the principal document within the Local Development Framework (LDF). It will set out the vision and key objectives for the future development of Swale to 2031 and how these will be achieved. The core strategy will reflect the goals of Swale's Sustainable Community Strategy and cover all topics within it.
From 17 January 2011, the Council consulted on its Issues and Strategic Spatial Options for the Core Strategy in a document called Pick your own. Consultation has now closed. Our next consultation will begin on March 26th: Bearing Fruits - Our draft Core Strategy.
Sittingbourne Town Centre and Milton Creek Supplementary Planning Document
The Masterplan for Sittingbourne Town Centre puts forward a set of proposals to guide and maximise opportunities for the regeneration of the town over the next 10 to 15 years. It contains an ambitious but flexible framework for new retail, leisure, commercial and civic development, as well as principles for design for buildings and open spaces; and transport. Public consultation on the draft Sittingbourne Town Centre and Milton Creek Supplementary Planning Document took place in 2008 - 2009 and the finalised document was adopted in August 2010.
Other Supplementary Planning Documents and Supplementary Planning Guidance
Throughout the Local Plan reference is made to Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD). These documents are available to view.
The Development Plan
The Development Plan for the Borough currently comprises the Swale Borough Local Plan 2008 supported by a number of Supplementary Planning documents, and the emerging Local Development Framework.
The Regional Spatial Strategy (The South East Plan 2009) which was formerly part of the development plan, was revoked on 6 July 2010.
The Local Plan
Following receipt of the Inspector's Report in December 2007, on 20 February 2008, the Council adopted this Plan, which covers the period to 2016. It supersedes the Swale Borough Local Plan 2000 and forms part of the statutory development plan for the Borough. The Plan can be purchased for £45 (+£7.50 postage). Please contact us to place an order on (01795 417192) or by email.
An interactive online version of the adopted Swale Borough Local Plan 2008 is available. The Local Plan was also supported by a Sustainability Appraisal.
In July 2010, Swale Borough Council made an application to save policies from the Swale Borough Local Plan 2008, beyond 20 February 2011. A copy of the Secretary of State's Direction is available to view. Please note that policies not listed in the Direction, no longer form part of the Development Plan.
Swale Borough Local Plan 2008 - Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental (SA/SEA) Adoption Statement
The Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA / SEA) Adoption Statement was prepared in accordance with the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (16) (3) and (4)
A summary of the representations received following publication of the Deposit Draft Swale Borough Local Plan, together with the Council's agreed response is available.
Monitoring the Local Plan
Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Council is required to monitor the performance of its Local Plan and Local Development Framework and to produce an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR). The AMR must be submitted to Government in December each year. In future years, the AMR will relate to the new style Local Development Documents.
