The Secretary of State’s Direction is attached. Those policies not listed in the Direction will expire on 27 September 2007.

The Secretary of State’s assessment of whether saved policies should be extended is based upon the criteria set out in Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Development Frameworks and the Department for Communities and Local Government protocol on saving policies.  The Secretary of State's decisions concern some policies where there have been representations from a third party expressing views that differ from those of the local authority.  Also, her decisions in respect of some policies have the effect of saving policies that the authority requested should not be extended.  For clarity, where either or both of these two circumstances apply, the Secretary of State's reasons are set out in the table at the end of this letter.

The extension of saved policies listed in this Direction does not indicate that the Secretary of State would endorse these policies if presented to her as new policy. It is intended to ensure continuity in the plan-led system and a stable planning framework locally, and in particular, a continual supply of land for development.

Local planning authorities should not suppose that a regulatory local plan-style approach will be supported in forthcoming development plan documents (DPDs).  LPAs should adopt a positive, spatial, strategy-led approach to DPD preparation and not seek to reintroduce the numerous policies of many local plans.

The exercise of extending saved policies is not an opportunity to delay DPD preparation. LPAs should make good progress with local development frameworks according to the timetables in their local development schemes. Policies have been extended in the expectation that they will be replaced promptly and by fewer policies in DPDs.  Maximum use should be made of national and regional policy especially given the development plan status of the regional spatial strategy.

Following 27 September 2007, the extended policies should be read in context.  Where policies were adopted some time ago, it is likely that material considerations, in particular the emergence of new national and regional policy and also new evidence, will be afforded considerable weight in decisions.  In particular, we would draw your attention to the importance of reflecting policy in Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing and the Housing Green Paper – Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable in relevant decisions.

John Cheston
Senior Planning Officer

DIRECTION UNDER PARAGRAPH 1(3) OF SCHEDULE 8 TO THE PLANNING AND COMPULSORY PURCHASE ACT 2004
POLICIES CONTAINED IN THE SPELTHORNE BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN
ADOPTED APRIL 2001

Signed by authority of the
Secretary of State

John Cheston
Senior Planning Officer
Housing and Planning Directorate
Government Office for the South East

21 September 2007