Core strategy
The council’s Core Strategy is a development plan document that sets out the broad locations for delivering housing and other major development needs in the borough such as employment, retail and transport. It does not deal with site-specific issues. Every other planning document will be build on the principles it sets out.
The Core Strategy was adopted by the council on 7 February 2008. This followed a four-year process that culminated in the Core Strategy being found ‘sound’ by an independent planning inspector at the end of 2007.
The Core Strategy was subject to extensive consultation with the local community and other stakeholders. It is an integral part of delivering the council’s long-term vision and priorities for the borough. Its policies seek to balance the need for development with the need to maintain and enhance the borough’s important environmental assets and promoting an improved quality of life for residents.
Core Strategy Development Plan Document February 2008 (PDF, 3877kb) - The Planning Inspectorate Report on the Examination into the Core Strategy Development Plan Document (PDF, 325kb)
- Inspectorate Report - annexes 1 and 2 (PDF, 337kb)
- Core Strategy Adoption Statement (PDF, 46kb)
- Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment Adoption Statement for the Core Strategy (PDF, 44kb)
- Final sustainability appraisal (PDF, 4627kb)
If you require any of the documentation that supported the Examination of the Core Strategy, electronic copies are available upon request from the Spatial Policy Team.
