Frequently Asked Questions

Local Plans are used to assess and decide on planning applications. They set out where and how development takes place through a series of policies and maps. The policies guide whether planning applications are considered acceptable or not. They aren’t just about where new homes should go, but also the communities we live in, how we can look after the environment around us, how we get around, and making sure we have the access to the facilities and services we need.

South Kesteven District already has a Local Plan adopted in January 2020.

The Local Plan, together with adopted neighbourhood plans, make up the “statutory development plan” for the District.

The Government requires all local planning authorities to produce a Local Plan which will meet the needs of South Kesteven for the future.

If there was no Local Plan in place, development will still take place in South Kesteven. However, we will not be able to use our own planning policies to help decide where new development should go.

The Government requires us to review these plans every five years.

The Local Plan for South Kesteven was adopted in January 2020 but the Inspector’s final report on the current Local Plan commits the Council to undertake an early review of the Plan from April 2020.

The review enables necessary updates of evidence, and the Council to consider its local housing need.

Reviewing the Local plan can help ensure that it remains up to date and that South Kesteven will continue to grow sustainably, meeting the needs of its residents and businesses whilst protecting what is special about the area. 

Neighbourhood planning is part of a Government initiative to devolve decision-making down to local communities, so they have a greater say in issues that affect them. Neighbourhood plans are a statutory plan, which can include general planning policies for the development and use of land in an area, and they can allocate sites for development.

Made Neighbourhood Plans and those which are approved before the Local Plan is in place will continue to carry full weight in decision making. However, where a Neighbourhood Plan conflicts with the Local Plan, the most recently adopted plan will take precedence – whether that is the Local Plan or a Neighbourhood Plan.

Where a community is preparing a neighbourhood plans it needs to be consistent with national planning policy as well as the Council’s latest adopted plan. Once the new Local Plan is adopted, there will be scope for neighbourhood plans to be reviewed to reflect our new strategic priorities for the District. 

The Council provides support to communities producing a Neighbourhood Plan and more information on Neighbourhood Plans is available on our website. - https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/planning-building-control/planning-policy-local-plans/neighbourhood-plans

There are different stages to making the Local Plan. We are now at the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan consultation stage. As we do more work the plan gets more detailed and we want to hear your comments and views on a Draft Local Plan to help us further develop strategies, site allocations and policies.

Based on our current timetable, it is intended that the next Local Plan will be completed and in place by Spring 2026. This would mean submitting the Local Plan in Winter 2024/2025 for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

More details on the Local Plan timetable can be found in the Local Development Scheme on our website.

We will review and take account of all the comments submitted in helping to inform our approach to the Pre-Submission Local Plan. We will prepare a Consultation Statement detailing comments received and the Council’s response, including how the consultation comments will be taken into account as the next version of the plan is prepared.

Taking into account consultation comments received on the Draft Local Plan and any further evidence produced, changes will be made to the emerging Local Plan, as appropriate and published through the next stage of Local Plan consultation: Regulation 19 Pre-Submission Local Plan, in accordance with the Local Development Scheme.

The Planning Policy team has a database of people who would like to be kept informed about planning policy consultations, including the Local Plan. If you would like to be added to the database, please let us know via email planningpolicy@southkesteven.gov.uk or by calling 01476 406080).

Equally, if you are on our database and no longer want to be, please get in contact and we can remove your details from our records. For information, if you respond to a consultation on the next Local Plan, we will keep you informed of future consultation stages unless you advise us that you would want to opt out of such communications.

The Issues and Options consultation took place for 6 weeks between 12^th October and 23^rd November 2020. The Issues & Options consultation was the first opportunity for the local community to become involved in the preparation of the Local Plan review, setting out the scope of the review and key issues and options to be consider within the review.

The Issues and Options was a statement of intention as to what planning policies may need to be reviewed or updated. The consultation asked a series of questions to help the Council determine the scope and content of the Local Plan review.

Representations provided support to the proposals and was successful in generating interest and views for the next step of the review of the Local Plan

All comments were considered in the development of the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan

A statement summarising all the representations received was published including Officer responses to comments raised which you can view at the following link Appendix_1_Local_Plan_Issues___Options_Consultation_Statement.pdf (southkesteven.gov.uk)

A Call for Sites was initally launched as part of the review of the Local Plan in October 2020 and closed in September 2022 to establish what land is available for potential development within the District. 

As part of this review process the Council needs to establish what land is available for potential development within the District. A Call for Sites is a technical exercise to identify potential sites for development, redevelopment and alternative uses in which all relevant sites submitted will be assessed for their suitability, achievability and deliverability as a potential allocation within the Local Plan Review. 

The Call for sites process sought the submission of potential sites for residential, employment or mixed commercial uses, Gypsy & Traveller provision, Retail, Leisure/ Community, and other forms of development.   

The Call for Sites does not in itself determine whether a site should be allocated for development. It is the role of the assessment to provide information on the range of sites which are available to meet the local authority’s needs but it is for the development plan itself to determine which of those sites are the most suitable to meet those requirements.

The minimum housing number for South Kesteven District is calculated using a ‘standard methodology’ set by the Government. The Latest calculation of South Kesteven’s Local Housing Need is that we should be building 701 new homes each year. This target is calculated based on household formation projections and the affordability of local housing and is updated on an annual basis.

It is also important that the new Local Plan makes adequate provision for new development, to ensure that housing and jobs are provided to meet local needs and ensure that South Kesteven continues to have healthy, happy and prosperous communities into the future.

If we do not plan to meet South Kesteven’s housing requirements, the Local Plan would be found ‘Unsound’ when examined by the Independent Inspector. 

The Local Plan is a legal requirement and the Government has made clear that all local authorities must have an up-to-date plan. Failure to do so could lead to intervention whereby the Government writes our Local Plan and policies. Without planning for more housing, we could find ourselves unable to resist unacceptable development or refused applications being granted on appeal. This could result in unplanned development in unsustainable locations. 

The Local Plan will allocate land for new housing. The Council prepares lots of evidence that will help to decide where housing should (and should not) be located.

All sites which have been suggested to the Council as a possible site assessment have been considered on a consistent basis using a robust site assessment process.

The results of this assessment process are published as part of the Draft Local Plan consultation process.

In order to find sites which are suitable for housing and employment development, we have to consider what effect a development would have on the environment, the economy as well as social issues such as whether a site will provide affordable housing, open space or require new schools to be provided. Sites with the most positive social and economic impacts and the lowest environmental impacts are those which are shortlisted.

We also need to consider whether sites are genuinely available for development, and when a development might happen (for example in a year or over 10 years time).

Yes. It is a legal requirement that Local Authorities assess and meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the Local Plan.  We have commissioned an assessment of the Gypsy, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in South Kesteven to ensure that we can meet these needs.

A Call for Sites has also been launched seeking the submission of suitable sites that can deliver any Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople provision.

The Government's definition of affordable housing is housing provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market.

Affordable Housing is defined by National Planning Policy Framework (Annex 2) as follows;

Housing for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market (including housing that provides a subsidised route to home ownership and/or is for essential local workers); and which complies with one or more of the following categories:

1. Affordable housing for rent: the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Social Rent or Affordable Rent, or is at least 20% below local market rent.

2. Starter homes are new homes available to purchase by qualifying first time buyers only and to be sold at a discount of at least 20% of the market value.

3. Discounted market sales housing: is that sold at a discount of at least 20% below local market value. [This includes First Homes and is also known as intermediate housing].

4. Other affordable routes to home ownership: is housing provided for sale that provides a route to ownership for those who could not achieve home ownership through the market. [This includes Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy and is also known as intermediate housing].

We recognise that the affordability of housing is a significant concern for people living in South Kesteven. This includes younger people looking to move into their first property, and those who simply do not earn enough to be able to afford to buy a home.

It is important that as a Council we try to meet the needs of all of our communities, and to ensure that younger generations continue to live and work in the District.

The Local Plan will include a policy that requires a portion of the housing to be affordable housing. This will include a proportion of social or affordable rented housing, and intermediate housing such as ‘shared ownership’.

Infrastructure is a collective term for services, facilities and structures such as roads, electricity, sewerage, water, schools, health provision and open spaces that people need to live happy, healthy and safe lives.

New development is required to provide new infrastructure or upgrades to existing facilities to ensure that the needs of new developments can be met.  We cannot ask that new development provides upgrades that meet existing shortages.

Sustainable growth in South Kesteven will need to be supported by the provision of appropriate new and upgraded infrastructure in order to ensure the best possible impact on the economic and environmental well-being of the District.

The Local Plan when adopted will be accompanied by a document called an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). The IDP will identify the key infrastructure requirements which need to be delivered to support new development that is proposed in the Local Plan. This will include transport, schools, healthcare, electricity, gas, water, sewerage, sustainable drainage systems, and telecommunications.

It is not possible to identify the precise infrastructure requirements for the whole of the Local Plan period but critical infrastructure necessary to serve new development proposed during the plan period will be sought. The provision of new or upgraded infrastructure is usually agreed as part of the planning application process. This can be set out in legal agreements or planning conditions.

Congestion on the local transport network is a significant local issue. We understand that there is a big risk that the unprecedented increase in the number of homes and jobs that we are likely to see in the District could make this worse.

The Local Plan expects that new development is designed to minimise the need to travel in the first place and to promote non-car methods of transport in the first instance, including improving and creating walking and cycling routes, and provision of new public transport.

Development will be carefully controlled to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is provided. This is most likely to be possible when larger numbers of homes are being built together, as these infrastructure requirements can be planned and delivered as part of the overall development. 

We are currently preparing an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). This will include an assessment of the current provision within the area. The IDP will make certain that infrastructure requirements are fully considered in preparing the Local Plan. It will also ensure all the necessary infrastructure providers are involved in the Plan making process.

We understand that any new development will mean that there is a need to consider the capacity of existing schools and whether a new school is needed.

More modest scale developments will be required to make financial contributions towards improving or extending existing school facilities.

For some of the larger scale developments proposed in the Plan such as Spitalgate Heath in Grantham requires the provision of a new school as part of development.

We work closely with Lincolnshire County Council as the local education authority, to understand where new schools or upgrades to existing schools may be needed.

We understand that any new development will mean that there is a need to consider the capacity of local health care services. It is important to understand that South Kesteven District Council does not provide health services ourselves. This is done by the local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the NHS. We therefore work very closely with these organisations in order to find out what additional health facilities or provision may be required as a result of new development.

If needed, it is expected that existing or new health care facilities are provided through financial contributions such as Section 106.  

Although access to doctors and hospitals is important, the plan will also influence our health in other ways. There is an expectation that development will be designed to help allow healthy lifestyles, with safe places to walk and cycle, and the provision of sport and leisure facilities. In addition, it is expected green spaces and places for nature will be provided, both of which are known to help improve our mental health and wellbeing.

Funding for public infrastructure is gathered through what is called a Section 106 legal agreement.

Section 106 payments are made to pay for a specific types of infrastructure that is needed to ensure that a development proposal is acceptable. These are secured by legal agreement and must be paid at the time specified in that agreement.  It may be for example that early payment is made to improve a highway junction or local school, but a later payment is made to help provide for an element of affordable housing.

We recognise that South Kesteven District contains a rich network of biodiversity and some very important landscapes and habitats. Including other areas which are not designated are still of importance for wildlife and are valued by local people.

Our Local Plan policies provide areas with specific protection such as the Grantham Canal.  Outside of areas which have been identified for development and our towns and villages it is the general expectation against built development ensuring that the vast majority of our countryside continues to be protected.

The Plan also includes policies that require improvements to biodiversity by at least 10% (which may include some off-site measures).

As part of the process of preparing the local plan, we have also undertaken a number of detailed legal assessments that examine the impact of development on the environment. These are called Sustainability Assessment (SA) and Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA).

It's a legal requirement that all Local Plans be scrutinised through environmental reports, called the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). These reports consider the Plan’s impact on our environment, wildlife, people and the economy. They also set out how any negative impacts will be addressed.

Both the SA and HRA Scoping Reports are available for comment alongside the Regulation 19 - Draft Local Plan for consultation.

Development will be expected to include plans for new landscaping and green infrastructure, to help the development assimilate into its local setting.

A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) is being prepared to inform the new Local Plan. The flood risk level of proposed sites for allocation has been taken into account through their identification.

The Council recognises the need for urgent action to address climate change and in 2019 declared a climate emergency. The Council also published a Climate Action Strategy in 2023, which includes ambitions to deliver on climate change including the key themes of the Built Environment, and Transport which overlap with the scope of the Local Plan.

The Council has commissioned a Climate Change Study to accord with the NPPF, the results of which will be used to formulate new policy ensuring that the Local Plan takes a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long term implications of flood risk, water supply, biodiversity and landscapes and the risk of overheating from rising temperatures. New policy will also seek to support appropriate measures to ensure future resilience of communities and infrastructure to climate change impacts.

Whilst the Local Plan cannot alone achieve net-zero carbon targets for the district (for example there is a limited influence over existing buildings), the scope of a Local Plan can help to ensure that new development is appropriate for a low carbon future and is responsive to a changing climate.

The Local Plan recognises the importance of retaining and safeguarding existing employment and commercial sites in the District. We need this to ensure that people can live and work locally.

Our policies protect existing employment sites and identify new land for employment growth and development.

We also make sure that our rural economy is protected by supporting the diversification of rural employment spaces and promoting tourism throughout the District.

The Local Plan cannot directly supply jobs. However, it can make land available for new uses that generate employment, protect existing employment sites and support business development.