Development Plan Introduction

Foreword

The Clackmannanshire Local Plan is a statutory document prepared by Clackmannanshire Council to set out its policies guiding the development and use of land. The policies and proposals in the Clackmannanshire Local Plan form a core part of the Council’s vision of how it thinks the area should be promoted and protected in terms of the development and use of land and property. This vision takes us from now until the year 2017; a period during which significant changes are envisaged in the way we live and work.

The vision is encompassed within the Clackmannanshire Development Plan, which comprises both the Local Plan and the Structure Plan. It looks at the issues and problems which the area faces and seeks opportunities for physical, economic, social and environmental improvement.

The preparation of the Development Plan involved extensive opportunity for public involvement and many comments and objections were received at the issues, consultative draft and finalised Plan stages. The Structure Plan was prepared jointly with Stirling Council and was approved by the Scottish Ministers on 21 March 2002. Two Alterations to the Structure Plan have subsequently been adopted, introducing policies on renewable energy and forestry. The Local Plan was prepared by Clackmannanshire Council alone. Considerable work has been directed towards preparing these separate parts of the Plan in tandem.

This has allowed interested parties and the general public to appreciate the essential linkages between the two Plans and to be in a position to influence the entire Plan, which sets the basis for the consideration of future development proposals within Clackmannanshire.

Preface

What is the Development Plan?

It is a plan for the future, specifically dealing with the use and development of land, it is a key catalyst for change through implementation. In analysing the current economic and population trends, the environment and the social fabric, it promotes development. The Plan will help bring new jobs and homes, while providing measures for conservation and improvement of the physical environment and the management of traffic.

It consists of two parts:

Part 1 the Structure Plan, which outlines the strategic requirements for future development, over the next 13 years, and provides a framework for the Local Plan. It also provides a basis to guide the activities and expenditure priorities of the Council and other organisations or agencies involved within Clackmannanshire and Stirling.

Part 2 The Local Plan takes account of the provisions of the Structure Plan and contains site or subject specific policies, proposals or opportunities. It is expected to have a lifespan of 5 years, but this will depend upon whether it remains up to date and relevant. It is most often the Local Plan which influences the determination of planning applications and which guides other day to day planning decisions. It sets out the policies by which the Council takes decisions on planning applications and the proposals and opportunities which have arisen for development.

The Development Plan is an integral part of the Council’s range of policy documents. While the Development Plan deals predominantly with issues related to land use, it interlocks with other policy and strategy documents such as Housing Plans, Local Transpor t Strategies, Economic Development Strategies and Corporate Policy and is an important component in helping to meet the Council’s overall aims and objectives.

Why is the Development Plan prepared?

Clackmannanshire Council has a statutory duty to prepare a Structure Plan jointly with Stirling Council and to prepare a Local Plan for its own area. Councils are encouraged to make plans concise, easy to read, and relevant and to ensure that they are kept up to date. National government guidance takes the form of Circulars and National Planning Policy Guidelines, SSPs / Planning Advice Notes, the former being available from the Stationery Office and the latter from the Scottish Executive. Development Plan preparation requires to take account of such guidance. The Development Plan process has been set up to include a statutory requirement for public consultation in plan preparation. This is to ensure that any interested parties and members of the public have an opportunity to influence how the area will change. This is important given that the plan will guide development for over 13 years.

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