There are a number of other policies and strategies, as well as evidence, assessments and stakeholder involvement that we must take into account in developing a Local Plan. These are set out and explained below:

      Other Policies, Plans and Strategies including:

• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
• Sustainable Community Strategy
• Thanet Corporate Plan 2012-16
• Other local strategies
• Community Engagement
• Duty to Co-operate
• Research and evidence
• Sustainability Appraisal
• Habitats Regulations Assessment

Other Policies, Plans and Strategies

The Local Plan process does not start with a blank canvas. It needs to be all encompassing and take into account and reflect the various policies, plans and strategies of Government and other bodies who have a role in delivering and influencing the future of the places in which we live.

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

Account must be taken of the context of national planning policy, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which sets the Government’s view of what sustainable development in England means in practice for the planning system.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The UK’s Sustainable Development Strategy sets out five guiding principles of sustainable development; living within the planet’s environmental limits; ensuring a strong, healthy and just society; achieving a sustainable economy; promoting good governance; and using sound science responsibly.

The purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. The NPPF sets out what this means in practice for the planning system.

There are three dimensions to sustainable development; an economic role; a social role and an environmental role.

An economic role – contributing to building a stong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right type is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth and innovation, and by identifying and coordinating development requirements, including the provision of infrastructure;

A social role – supporting strong, vibrant and healthy communities, by providing the supply of housing required to meet the needs of present and future generations; and by creating a high quality built environment, with accessible local services that reflect the community’s needs and support its health, social and cultural well-being;and

An environmental role – contributing to protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment; and, as part of this, helping to improve biodiversity, use natural resources prudently, minimise waste and pollution, and mitigate and adapt to climate change moving to a low carbon economy.

To achieve sustainable development economic, social and environmental gains should be sought jointly and simultaneously through the planning system.

The Plan needs to positively seek opportunities to meet the development needs of the area. It should be aspirational but also realistic and should provide sufficient flexibility to adapt to rapid change. The Plan must be based upon up to date, sound evidence. We have to be able to demonstrate that the Plan will be deliverable and therefore the proposals included within it must be viable and realistic.

Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS)

The East Kent Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS), covering Thanet and its neighbouring Districts, was adopted in 2009. It identifies the challenge for East Kent and how we can best contribute to the success of wider community objectives. The Strategy identifies climate change, community cohesion, educational underperformance and a more balanced housing market, without sacrificing, and indeed asserting, aspects of the area’s distinctiveness. The SCS’ vision, work themes and priorities provide fundamental context for the Local Plan. Context for the Local Plan is also provided by Kent’s Sustainable Community Strategy - Vision for Kent 2012-2022.

Thanet District Council Corporate Plan

The District Council's Corporate Plan 2012-16 sets aims, priorities and actions the Council proposes to deliver to the community in meeting the Council’s Vision 2030. The Plan was developed in consultation with the community and identifies 11 priorities. This includes supporting the growth of our economy and the number of people in work, tackling disadvantage, improving parking and transportation, planning for the right number and type of homes in the right place, supporting cultural, sports leisure and coastal activities, as well as protecting our public open spaces.

The Local Plan will aim to help deliver the key priorities and actions of the Sustainable Community Strategy and the Corporate Plan.

Other Local Strategies

The Council has a number of other plans and strategies, such as the Economic Strategy and Housing Strategy. The Local Plan will be informed by these and will also help to deliver actions within them.

The following diagram explains the relationship of the Local Plan with other key plans and strategies.

Community Engagement

As an essential part of the process we will continue to seek the views of individuals and organisations, including from the public, private and voluntary sectors, and this consultation forms an integral part of this.

Previous consultations have included a series of conferences, and formal public consultation periods, as well as informal and ongoing discussions with a number of key stakeholders, including statutory consultees. Representations received in response to previous consultations have been used to inform this consultation document, and in particular the vision, strategic priorities and objectives.

Duty to Co-operate

Planning issues are not constrained to local authority boundaries. National policy requires that public bodies cooperate on planning issues that cross administrative boundaries, particularly those that relate to strategic priorities.

We are working with other authorities to ensure that strategic issues are properly co-ordinated and clearly reflected in the Plan.

Research and Evidence

The Local Plan needs to be based on adequate, up-to-date and relevant evidence about the economic, social and environmental characteristics and prospects of Thanet.

The evidence we have collected, and will continue to collect includes specific studies and a variety of statistical and other information. A list of the relevant studies are available to view at this link.

Sustainable Development and Sustainability Appraisal

The Local Plan will be founded upon the principles of sustainable development, and what this means for Thanet.

Over the course of its preparation, the Local Plan will be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal which is a continuous appraisal of the sustainability of its proposals.

Habitats Regulations Assessment

The Local Plan will also be subject to and informed by “Appropriate Assessment" or Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) which is required under the European ‘Habitats Directive’. This is an assessment of the potential impacts of implementing a plan or policy on European sites of nature conservation importance (Natura 2000 Sites) and aims to avoid any potentially damaging effects. There are a number of these sites within Thanet. We also need to consider those sites within the neighbouring Districts of Dover and Canterbury.

Equalities Impact Assessment

The final version of the Local Plan (Submission Document) will be subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment

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