1.

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

generations the best of today‟s environment”

(Department of the Environment, 1992)

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

occur in development realm.

2.0 Development plans

2.1 What is development plan?

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

responsibilities of local government and other agencies.

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

rationale and a tool for efficient management.

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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

are some of those:

i. Development plans should be strategic

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

order to achieve the plan‟s objectives for the wider community.

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.

iii. Role in protecting the environment and heritage

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.

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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,

waste management, transport, sustainable communities, and use of natural resources.

v. Consistency between plans and strategies at different levels is essential

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.

vi. Diverse community needs should be addressed

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

impact of the development plan for different people in the community.

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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

plans, in that they should:

• 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.

• Protect and enhance the amenities of the area.

• Offer clear guidance to developers in framing development proposals and to the planning authority in

assessing such proposals.

• Establish a policy framework within which more detailed plans can be drawn up for specific parts of the

planning authority‟s area.

• Be capable of implementation and monitoring. Development plans should be user friendly, logical,

internally consistent and up-to-date.

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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

the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

(World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, p. 43)

From the definition, planning is commonly perceived to reconcile the three-fold demands that are:

Environment Social Economy Sustainable

Thus, a good place to start considering the meaning of sustainable development is therefore to examine a planning

policy from these three dimensions.

4.0 Development plans and sustainable development

Development plans seen as a key role in assisting the delivery of sustainable development by the following way:

Environmental protection and improvement can be plan-led.

Social and economic requirements of the population can be met.

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

reflects environmental priorities.

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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

use private cars is minimized.

Guide new development which attract trips to the locations and able to act as nodes for public

transport services.

Limit town center car parking

Identify appropriate land to provide interchange within public transport modes.

Provide facilities to increase the usage of walking and cycling.

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.

5.0 Issues in development plans and sustainability

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

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social segregation. Thus, a spatial policy on its own may achieve environmental sustainability but a parallel

social policy on access to housing to secure social sustainability also needed.

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

people and how it determines social sustainability.

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.

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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

thing to under estimate, but to be proud and fully utilized.

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.

[Link] retrieved on February 13 th 2010.

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.

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