The Local Plan Committee met to discuss the updated Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives for the Derbyshire Dales Local Plan, and to review the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) report on the Local Plan's project management. The committee endorsed the proposed changes to the Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives, and also endorsed the Action Plan responding to the PAS report.

Local Plan Vision and Strategic Objectives

The committee endorsed the proposed changes to the Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives for inclusion in the review of the Derbyshire Dales Local Plan. The vision and objectives will form the foundation of the Local Plan Review.

Mike Hase, Planning Policy Manager, explained that the existing Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives were reviewed and updated to reflect changes at a national and local level since the current Local Plan was adopted in 2017. These changes include the latest version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024, new Census Data, UK Government Net Zero commitments (2019), the Environment Act 2021, Derbyshire Dales District Council's (DDDC) Corporate Plan 2024-2028 and Nature Delivery Plan 2024-2027.

The proposed changes to the Spatial Vision include a greater emphasis on:

• Thriving and sustainable communities
• Supporting the transition to net zero and helping communities adapt to climate change
• High quality design based on local character
• Meeting the needs of an ageing population
• Ensuring new development is supported by new and improved infrastructure

Proposed changes to the Strategic Objectives include:

• Greater emphasis on all areas of the natural environment
• Requirements that new development is designed to be adaptable and resource efficient
• Supporting the transition to net zero and increasing resilience to climate change
• A new objective on water resources
• Greater emphasis on safe and accessible places to play
• Maximising opportunities for new and retro-fitted renewable energy technologies
• Adding improvements to electric vehicle charging infrastructure to the sustainable transport objective.

The committee also agreed that any additional changes to the Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives made necessary as plan preparation progresses will be presented to the committee for further consideration.

Planning Advisory Service Report and Action Plan

The committee noted the contents of the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Local Plan Project Management Diagnostic Support report and endorsed the Action Plan to address the advice and recommendations set out in the report.

The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) is an initiative run by the Local Government Association (LGA) and funded by the Ministry for Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG).¹

The PAS report set out a number of key findings, along with a number of priorities that PAS considered the District Council needs to address in order to demonstrate that submission of the revised Local Plan to the Secretary of State by December 2026 remains 'realistic'.

Key findings included:

• Uncertainty on how housing needs will be apportioned between Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA).
• Insufficient clarity on how the timescales in the Local Development Scheme² will be met.
• Uncertainty on how much further evidence base work may be required.
• A need to ensure that Member interest is proportionate and does not delay the Local Plan Review.
• A need to continue to investigate options to automate and streamline consultation analysis.

The Action Plan sets out mitigation measures to address the issues raised in the PAS report, including:

• Continuing discussions with the PDNPA to agree on the apportionment of housing need.
• Preparing and presenting a project plan for approval by the Local Plan Committee.
• Using the PAS Toolkit prior to the preparation of the Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan³.
• Ongoing liaison with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Local Plan Committee.
• Ensuring that appropriate software is utilised to enable direct electronic input and analysis of responses to consultations.