The Core Strategy is a mandatory document, and a timetable for its production is set out within the Local Development Scheme. 

PROGRESS TO DATE

1.  A Shaping Places and Spaces Conference was held in June 2005 to identifying the key issues that exist within the plan area.  Please click here to view details of this consultation event.

2.  Core Strategy Issues and Options:
A first Issues and Options Draft of the Core Strategy was put together which addressed the issues identified during the conference, together with a number of options for how the LDF could address them.   The Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation papers were consulted on for 6 weeks in June and July 2006.  For further details please click here.

3.  Consultation Feedback Workshop:
As part of the preparation of the second draft of the Core Strategy, the 'Preferred Option', a workshop event was held in January 2007 to provide feedback on the comments received in response to the Issues and Options consultation papers.  To view details of this event please click here.

4.  Core Strategy Preferred option:
The Preferred Option draft of the Core Strategy was prepared based on the comments received in response to the Issues and Options consultation and the follow-up workshop.  This underwent a second public consultation period in October and November 2007.  For further information on this consultation event, and to view the Core Strategy Preferred Option Draft please click here.

Next Steps:
The Council are now looking at the responses received during the Core Strategy Preferred Option pubic consultation and modifying the Core Strategy into a final draft.  This will undergo a further round of public consultation before being submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.  The final draft will also undergo an Examination in Public to ensure that all the proper steps have been taken in the preparation of the Core Strategy, and the content is 'sound'. 


Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy
The Core Strategy (along with all other Local Development Documents) is subject to a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) to ensure that the policies and strategies adopted are sustainable in environmental, social and economic terms.  Please refer to the Sustainability Appraisal page to view Appraisal Documents which have been produced for the Core Strategy.