Development Plan
Development Plan
Development Plan
0 Introduction
The initial purpose of having development plans is to practice development control within the plans cover. This is to
ensure the ability of planning to cater amount of issues in regards to physical, social and economic performance of
certain areas without excessive utilization of resources. Hence, the development plans would not only prepared for
the current generations but also for future, as actions today must have effects in the future of time.
“The planning system, and the preparation of development plans in particular, can
contribute to the objectives of ensuring that development and growth are sustainable. The
sum total of decisions made in the planning field, as elsewhere, should not deny future
With that, this assignment in further will discuss basic understanding on development plans, introduce sustainable
development, how the development plans contributing in sustainable forms of development and also some issues
The 1947 Town and Country Planning Act defined development plan as a plan „indicating the manner in which the
local planning authority propose that land in their area should be used‟. The plans that resulted were essentially
detailed land allocation maps that provided basis for the control of the development. Development plans are
intended to set out the main considerations on which planning applications are decided and to guide a range of other
According to Healy (1983), development plans is to provide principles for translating policies into spatial
allocations and detailed development, coordinate public sector development effort. The plan was both to provide a
As referred to Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2007), numbers of purposes of
development plans have been outlined which shows the importance of having development plans and the following
Planning and development issues today are complex and frequently overlap with other policy areas such as economic
development, transport and education provision. The development plan must recognize the wider policy context and
set out a strategic spatial framework for the area the development plan covers. This spatial framework, while
acknowledging wider social, economic and environmental trends, needs to focus on the “big picture” planning issues,
possibilities and considerations that will underpin how the development process in that area is to be structured in
ii. Development plans should be a catalyst for positive change and progress
Development plans must recognize and be responsive to the fact that population and economy are continuing to
grow rapidly. The development plan is central to achieving greater balance in regional development and enabling all
areas to develop to their maximum potential. The plan creates the vision for the area it covers, specifies the type,
amount and quality of development needed to achieve that vision and seeks to protect and enhance the environment
and amenities.
Development plans play a central role in the identification and protection of the natural and built environment. The
development plan will set out policies for the protection of the environment and heritage and is an important source
of information for landowners, developers, communities and members of the public in this regard. Development plan
policies affecting protected sites should be clearly compatible with their long-term protection and sustainable use.
As the blueprint for development for their areas, development plans are the strategic framework document for
sustainable development. As such, the development plan must offer clear guidance on sustainable development
policies and objectives, both national and local, which address the various issues involved, such as climate change,
Development plans should take and implement relevant national and regional policies in a manner consistent with
the national plan and regional guidelines if the planning system as a whole is to function effectively. Similarly, good
development plans will inform policies at regional and national level. It is intended that guidance will also be
prepared for planning authorities which will complete the suite of guidance for each layer in the planning framework.
The mix of different people in many areas, particularly in cities and towns, is changing rapidly. New communities are
being established, made up of a diverse range of people. The planning process should be responsive to the planning
issues arising from growing cultural diversity and should seek where possible to actively affirm and support the needs
of the new local communities which are emerging. The areas where immigrants settle have the potential to develop a
new local diversity which can revitalize them and support urban regeneration. In addition, the community should be
involved at an early stage in the preparation of development plans and the monitoring process to help assess the
While all development plans will differ in their policies and objectives, Department of the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government (2007) identify some of the common criteria likely to be shared by high quality development
• Create a clear strategic framework for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area over the
duration of the plan, consistent with longer- term planning and sustainable development aims.
• Set out an over-arching vision for the development of the area to which the plan relates.
• Give spatial expression to the economic, social and cultural aims of the County or City Development
Strategy.
• Be grounded in public and political consensus around the plan‟s strategic framework.
• Provide a clear framework for public and private sector investment in infrastructure and in development in
the area, having regard to both national and regional plans and policies.
• Offer clear guidance to developers in framing development proposals and to the planning authority in
• Establish a policy framework within which more detailed plans can be drawn up for specific parts of the
• Be capable of implementation and monitoring. Development plans should be user friendly, logical,
The definition outlined in Brundtland Commission report Our Common Future as follow:
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
From the definition, planning is commonly perceived to reconcile the three-fold demands that are:
Thus, a good place to start considering the meaning of sustainable development is therefore to examine a planning
Development plans seen as a key role in assisting the delivery of sustainable development by the following way:
Local, regional and global natural systems and resources can be protected.
Individual planning decisions can be taken against an overall national, strategic and local framework that
Allmendinger, et. al (2000) stated several ways for development plans realize sustainable development that are:
Promote developments that optimize the use of land within urban areas.
Guide development to locations that are closely related to public transport network where the need to
Guide new development which attract trips to the locations and able to act as nodes for public
transport services.
Apart from those specific terms highlighted in development plans, it is all about policy making in development
plans that will determine level of acceptance among practitioners and public regarding sustainable issue. It is
therefore important for the plans to fulfill the aims or purposes preparing the plans.
i. In England, projected demand for new homes currently put at 3.8 million between 1996 and 2016
(Raemaekers, 2000). This would mean a lot more development in small settlements and the open
countryside. It is claimed to be sustainable if high proportion of new homes built on brownfield sites as it
will reduce new land take, protect country side and rural settlements and reduce travel. Yet, the
sustainability of this policy has been questioned on grounds that illustrate the goal conflict between
dimensions of sustainable development. It has been estimated that 37%-44% of the projected new
households will not be able to compete on the open market because they are too poor. As the supply of
greenfield getting scarcer, the price will get higher and allow only the wealthy who can afford to buy, while
social segregation. Thus, a spatial policy on its own may achieve environmental sustainability but a parallel
ii. Plans that favor the private car over public transport as the main modes of connecting places. Poor design
of built environment and facilities restrict mobility for disabled people, for the elderly and for parents with
kids. Many planners do not regard these as matters falling within their sphere of influence, but in making
arrangements for the optimum distribution of land uses, guiding development to preferred locations, and
organizing the transport links between them. This continues question whether the plans are for land or
iii. The bypass dilemma illustrates how conflict may arise between the different geographical scales of
sustainable development (Raemaekers, 2000). Suppose a fine historic city center is suffering from traffic
congestion because historically, main roads have linked city centers. A common response is to build bypass,
with or without imposing restrictions in the city center. Department of Environment in Raemaekers (2000)
argues it is an effort to overcome traffic congestion that lead to severe local air pollution which potentially
damaging health effects where the bypass would appear to be an environmentally sustainable action.
Unfortunately, it is now officially recognized the bypass does not merely divert and speed up traffic flow
but generate new trips, with extra emissions from more vehicles.
Those examples are some evident of conflict between development goal and sustainable concept. Some of the
strategies left out certain aspect in development as they focus onto specific issue without foresee effects upon
other related sectors. That is the reason why development plans must comprehensively cover all related aspects
in a particular development.
Development plans have been an integral part of the modern planning system since the establishment of planning act.
They have a long history as a key tool of spatial planning practice. However, their form and content have been
subject to change over period responding to current need in planning practice. Thus, development plans conceived to
be important to control development ultimately to achieve sustainable development in local, regional and
international level. By referring to their purposes, it is undeniable that each of those plans is responsible to undertake
the responsibility in promoting sustainable development. Therefore, having development plans is not a mere little
7.0 References
Allmendinger, P., Prior, A., & Raemaekers, J. (2000). (Eds). Introduction to planning practice. England: John Wiley
& Sons Ltd.
Department of the Environment. (1992). PPG12 Development plans and regional planning guidance. HMSO.
London.
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. (2007). Guidelines for Planning Authorities.
Ireland.
Healy, P. (1983). Local plans in British land use planning. Oxford: Pergamon.
Prior, A. (2000). “Development plans.” in Allmendinger, P., Prior, A., & Raemaekers, J. (Eds). Introduction to
planning practice. England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Raemaekers, J. (2000). “Planning for sustainable development.” in Allmendinger, P., Prior, A., & Raemaekers, J.
(Eds). Introduction to planning practice. England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford: Oxford University
Press. p. 43.