What has happened so far?  Earlier in the year, the Council’s Cabinet agreed to start gathering evidence for a Local Plan review, whilst awaiting further Government guidance on changes to the plan-making process. The review will ensure that the Local Plan continues to meet local needs and aligns with the wide-reaching changes to the planning system that have been proposed. Changes include the return to ambitious mandatory housing targets, NPPF revisions that will provide better support for housebuilding, and amendments to Green Belt controls.

Why is land needed? The housing target for North East Derbyshire is going to increase significantly.  At present, using the existing method the local plan calculates a need to plan for the delivery of just 224 homes per year.  The Government's proposed target is 622 new homes per year - almost three times higher.  This will require a significant amount of new land being allocated for future development to meet the Government's targets.

The Call for Sites is a vital part of this process.  If you have used a different planning consultant in the past, and they haven't told you about this opportunity already, speak to our top-rated team instead.  Our consultants have been busy meeting with clients in the North East Derbyshire area, both developers and landowners alike, to discuss effective site promotion to ensure they are ready to take advantage of this rare opportunity. 

What is the timescale? For the Call for Sites, land must be submitted to the Council by 10 JANUARY 2025.   In terms of the national changes, following consultation during autumn 2024 the Government advised that they intend to introduce the changes from late January 2025 onwards.  This might change, so check back for regular updates or contact our team today.

What do you need to do?  Be ready!  High-quality, effective and reliable planning representation is vital. Sites need to be promoted in the right way, and at the right time.  The window of opportunity is very short and strictly applied, so early preparation is key. 

Why choose Fytche-Taylor to promote your site?  Fytche-Taylor's team have hands-on local authority experience having led Local Plan reviews and Call for Sites consultations and as a planning consultancy we hold an excellent track record in securing site allocations for our clients.  We know what to present and how to maximise the potential of your site so that it stands out as a credible and deliverable development site. Contact our team today on 01522 581 383 or email [email protected] 

Submitting a well-presented promotion pack that includes technical assessments to demonstrate the site's suitability is strongly recommended. This will strengthen your case, identify constraints and show how they can be addressed.  Sites with little or no supporting information rarely get selected, likewise not properly considering key environmental constraints or infrastructure needs can weaken your submission​.  

When promoting a site the inclusion of a high-level masterplan with proposed land uses is a great help too. Employing RTPI chartered planning consultants, such as our top-rated team, can improve your chances in the call for sites process.  Contact us today for top-rated representation.