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Local Development Framework

Last updated 21 May 2013

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The Local Development Framework provides the planning framework for the consideration of planning applications within a local authority area.

Development Management Policies Proposed Submission Consultation

The consultation period started on 30 July and ended on 17 September 2012.

The document was submitted for independent examination on 10 December 2012. See Development Management Policies Submission.

For background information see below.

Core Strategy

The Core Strategy deals with the big strategic planning issues - how the area within Waltham Forest should develop and where developments should go in broad terms. It focuses on key strategic issues such as jobs, housing, town centres, health, education, transport, built and natural heritage and climate change. This is the first and most important document of the LDF because it sets the course for everything to follow.

The LDF Core Strategy was formally adopted by the Council on 1 March 2012. The adopted Core Strategy and related documents can be downloaded below:

Copies of the LDF Core Strategy and related documents are available for inspection at the Council’s offices (Sycamore House) and at all Waltham Forest Libraries. The LDF Core Strategy replaces 145 out of the 158 policies in the Waltham Forest Unitary Development Plan – First Review 2006.

View saved UDP Policies (Post Core Strategy Adoption)

Core Strategy - Examination Stage

View the Inspector’s Report (2.7MB PDF file)

The Core Strategy was submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for independent examination on 31 May 2011. This followed the statutory consultation on the Proposed Submission document which ended on 28 February 2011. For more information see LDF Core Strategy Examination

Submission documents

Key documents submitted include the following:

Proposed Submission Stage

This document was published for statutory consultation during the period 17 January to 28 February 2011 to allow comments to be made prior to the submission of the document to the Secretary of State for examination.

Download Core Strategy Proposed Submission Documents below:

Supporting documents

Preferred Options Stage

The consultation on the Preferred Options Stage closed on 19 February 2010.

Consultation documents

Core Strategy - Issues and Options Stage

Public consultation at the Issues and Options Stage was undertaken from 25 June to 1 September 2008.

Published below are the summary comments received during the consultation period.

Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report

We are required to fully integrate Sustainability Appraisal in the preparation of the LDF Core Strategy. The purpose of Sustainability Appraisal is to assess the social, economic and environmental effects of any proposed policies to be included in the Core Strategy. The first stage of the sustainability appraisal process is the production of a Scoping Report, providing the framework to be used to help develop policy options and consider their possible effects. Public consultation on a draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report was undertaken from 25 June to 1 September 2008. The final sustainability appraisal report is published below:

Consultation documents (25 June to 1 September 2008)

See Area Action Plans

Development Management Policies

The Development Management Policies Document supports the Core Strategy adopted March 2012 and sets out the Council's detailed policies for managing development in the borough.

Following the Proposed Submission consultation (see below), the document was submitted to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination on 10 December 2013.

For further information on the Examination, visit: Development-Management-Policies-Submission.aspx.

Proposed Submission Stage (consultation period ended on 17 September 2012)

The Proposed Submission document was published for final statutory consultation from 30 July -17 September 2012.

Preferred Options Stage (consultation period ended on 28 February 2011)

The Preferred Options document was published for consultation from 17 January to 28 February 2011. The consultation period has now closed. Download Development Management Policies Preferred Options below:

Supporting documents

Issues and Options Stage

The Issues and Options Consultation was undertaken during the period 19 March to 28 May 2010. See published documents as below:

Other supporting documents

Proposals/Policies Map

The Proposals Map is an Ordnance Survey base map illustrating Development Plan Document policies and proposals for the allocation of land for specific types of development. It identifies areas of the borough where area-specific core policies apply, safeguarded sites for notable land uses or activities, significant development sites and other relevant area/site-specific designations.

The Council has published a new Policies Map with the Waltham Forest Local Plan - Development Management Policies Proposed Submission Document. When adopted this new map will replace the 2006 UDP Proposals Map.

View the Draft Local Plan Policies Map (9MB PDF file) and Inset Maps (9MB PDF file)

As background information, the previous UDP Proposals Map is published below.

View the Interactive Web Version of the 2006 UDP.

North London Waste Plan

The North London Waste Plan identifies a range of suitable sites for the management of all North London’s waste up to 2027 and sets out policies and guidelines for determining planning applications for waste developments. This plan is being prepared by the North London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.

Submission and Examination Stage

The North London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest submitted the North London Waste Plan for an independent examination by an appointed inspector on Tuesday 28 February 2012.

This submission date supersedes the timeline set out in the current Local Development Scheme. The anticipated new timeline is:

  • Submission - 28 February 2012
  • Pre-Hearing Meeting - April 2012
  • Hearing - June 2012
  • Inspector's Report - October 2012

Further details of the examination and timeline will be confirmed by the Planning Inspector. You can view the North London Waste Plan and accompanying submission material at:

Area Action Plans

These cover the growth areas identified by the Core Strategy including Blackhorse Lane, Northern Olympic Fringe, Walthamstow Town Centre and Wood Street.

Visit: Area Action Plans

Interim Planning Policy Documents

The Council has published three (3) documents as follows:

(1) Dwelling conversions - interim planning policy document (adopted November 2008)

On 25 November 2008 the Council resolved to adopt the Dwelling Conversions Interim Planning Policy (IPP) document. This document clarifies and updates the UDP policy relating to the conversion of dwelling houses into self-contained flats.

Copies of the IPP document and supporting documents are also available for inspection at:

(2) Blackhorse Lane Interim Planning Policy Framework

Interim Planning Policy Framework (3.5MB PDF file)

This is a large document and as such it has been broken down into smaller files to make it more accessible.

Summary (186KB PDF file)

1. Introduction (187KB PDF file)

  • Purpose of an Interim Planning Policy Framework for Blackhorse Lane
  • Status of the framework
  • How the plan was developed

2. The Blackhorse Lane area (338KB PDF file)

  • Description of the area
  • Strategic context
  • Local issues

3. Vision and objectives (144KB PDF file)

4. Key diagram (340KB PDF file)

5. Development sites (860KB PDF file)

6. Objective 1: A new centre around the station (377KB PDF file)

  • The need for a new Neighbourhood Centre
  • The Blackhorse Lane Neighbourhood Centre

7. Objective 2: Bringing the country into the city (456KB PDF file)

  • The potential for improved access to the Lee Valley Regional Park
  • Improved access, views and signage
  • Proposed waterfront park
  • Recreation opportunities
  • Greening the area
  • Other policy considerations

8. Objective 3: Meeting housing need (356KB PDF file)

  • Housing targets and need
  • Proposed housing and mixed used development in Blackhorse Lane
  • Design of housing and mixed use developments
  • Housing tenure, type and density
  • Sustainable development and flood risk

9. Objective 4: A 21st century business area (844KB PDF file)

  • Regional and sub-regional demand for employment land and the policy response
  • The Blackhorse Lane labour market
  • Industrial estates in the Blackhorse Lane area: key issues
  • The strategy for employment and industry in Blackhorse Lane
  • Employment land outside of the Strategic Employment Location
  • A vision for the Blackhorse Lane Strategic Employment Location
  • Access to employment for local residents

10. Objective 5: New horizons for local people (347KB PDF file)

  • Key sites for new or improved services
  • Education and childcare
  • Health
  • Community, voluntary and faith centres
  • Community safety

11. Objective 6: Managing traffic and encouraging sustainable transport (358KB PDF file)

  • Existing situation – key issues
  • Impact of proposed developments
  • Transport strategy and policies

12. Design and development principles (195KB PDF file)

  • Planning Applications
  • Station Area (sites BHL1, BHL2 and BHL3)
  • Sutherland Road (sites BHL4, BHL5 and BHL6)
  • Billet / Kimberley (site BHL7)

13. Planning Obligations (59KB PDF file)

14. Translation (81KB PDF file)

(3) Walthamstow Town Centre Master Plan and Interim Planning Policy Framework

Walthamstow Town Centre Master plan 2011

In July 2010 the Council agreed to undertake a revision to is Interim Planning Policy Framework for the eastern end of Walthamstow Town Centre (developed with The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment in 2008). A new masterplan was considered necessary for this area of the town centre in the light of significant changes planned. These changes include a proposed new mixed-use development (residential, commercial and leisure) on the Arcade site, the installation of the Live Screen on the town square and gardens, consent for a new development including a hotel on the Central station car park site and aspirations by the owners of Selborne Walk Shopping Mall to extend their retail offer.

A refresh of the 2008 master plan for Walthamstow Town Centre was undertaken by MacCreanor Lavington and Gort Scott.

This short-term master plan (written by The London Borough of Waltham Forest) is set within, and draws on, a longer-term (10-15 year) plan created by MacCreanor Lavington and their team. The long-term approach will form the evidence base for the development of the Area Action Plan preferred options for Walthamstow, due to be consulted on in late summer 2011.

The short term master plan was adopted by Cabinet on 11 May 2011 as interim planning guidance and will be a material consideration in the assessment of planning applications until the adoption of the Walthamstow Area Action Plan planned for 2013.

View the adopted master plan (1.3MB PDF file)

View the Interim Planning Policy Framework (3MB PDF file)

Supplementary Planning Documents

The Council has published six (6) documents as follows:

(1) Inclusive Design SPD

The Council is committed to raising the quality of design for all new development in Waltham Forest and has produced new planning guidance on inclusive design. Two Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) were formally adopted by the Council in May 2011. See formally adopted documents below:

  • Inclusive Housing Design (1.6MB PDF file) The Inclusive Housing Design SPD covers all new residential development including new housing development and the design of wheelchair housing and lifetime homes. The conversion of existing premises into residential units is also covered by this guidance
  • Inclusive Design for Non-Residential Buildings (2.8MB PDF file)
    The Inclusive Design for Non-Residential Buildings SPD focuses on inclusive design for other development including all new buildings, extensions, changes of use and alterations to elevations, for example new shop fronts

Both documents have been informed by a series of national, regional and local policy documents, best practice advice and statutory requirements set out in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, 2005 (to be subsequently superseded by the emerging Equalities Act 2010).

(2) Urban Design & Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD

Urban design is essentially about place-making. It is about the design of places, including the design of groups of buildings, the spaces between them, streets and whole areas, and the connections between them. Urban design transcends arguments about the architectural style of individual buildings and focuses instead on our total surroundings and our experience of the three-dimensional built environment.

  • Urban Design (4MB PDF file) - This aimed at larger development proposals, including housing schemes and other mixed use development
  • Residential Extensions and Alterations (3MB PDF file) -This provides design advice to householders wanting to extend or make changes to their home

Schedule of representations

(3) Planning Obligations SPD

On 25 November 2008 the Council resolved to adopt the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The SPD provides guidance in a single document for developers, applicants and landowners on planning obligations that the Council will seek to include in Section 106 agreements as part of the Local Development Framework.

Annexe to Planning Obligations SPD: - Blackhorse Lane Planning Obligations Strategy

This area based planning obligations strategy relates to the Blackhorse Lane Growth Area. The Council adopted this document on 24 February 2009.

Copies of the SPD supporting documents are also available for inspection at:

For further information please contact the Spatial Planning Unit by email planning.policy@walthamforest.gov.uk or phone 020 8496 3000

(4) Hot Food Takeaway SPD

On 24 March 2009, the Council resolved to adopt the Hot Food Takeaway Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This document sets out the approach the Council will take in considering planning applications for hot food takeaway uses in the borough.

Copies of the SPD document and other supporting documents are also available for inspection at:

(5) Locally Listed SPD

As part of the Council’s commitment to protecting the borough’s heritage, we keep a list of locally listed buildings of architectural and historic interest. The purpose of the list is to recognise, promote and protect those buildings and structures which are seen as having heritage value and which contribute significantly to the character and amenity of their surroundings. This list is separate from the nationally recognised list of buildings produced by Central Government (those that may for example be Grade I or Grade II listed) which have greater statutory protection.

Please note that the consultation period for comments on revisions to the Local List ended on Friday, 25 November. The Council would like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation and will take all comments received into consideration in revising the new Local List. We have received over 70 suggestions for new additions to the Local List which are currently being considered. The revised list will be reported to the Council's Cabinet later in the year with a recommendation to formally adopt as a new Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

View the Locally Listed Buildings supplementary planning document - draft for public consultation October 2011 (1MB PDF file)

(6) Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPGN8)- Shopfront Design Guide

Shop front Design Guide (Adopted June 1999) (232 PDF file)

Local Development Scheme

The Local Development Scheme (LDS) is the Council’s published timetable for preparing documents in the Local Development Framework (LDF).The LDS has the following main purposes:

  • To inform the public of the documents that make up the planning policy framework for Waltham Forest
  • To establish the priorities and the programme for preparing these documents, the subject matter and the geographical area for each document and the resources involved.

Draft LDS December 2011.pdf (Update as at December 2011)

Previous LDS documents are published below:

LDF evidence base

The LDF evidence base is made up of a number of background studies that will underpin the various policies and proposals in the LDF. A large number of documents form part of our evidence base. The main technical studies will be published on this page. This page will be updated as and when new studies are undertaken and completed.

Built environment

Climate change

Community services

Housing

Infrastructure

Local economy

Green infrastructure

Water

Transport

New Documents

Statement of community involvement

The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out how the Council intends to involve the local community and stakeholders in producing local development documents and in considering planning applications.

Click to download the Waltham Forest Statement of Community Involvement Adopted - June 2007 (796KB PDF file)

This document is also available for public inspection at Sycamore House (information desk) and Walthamstow Town Hall (information desk), Forest Road, E17, Walthamstow Central Library and at all other Waltham Forest Branch Libraries and Waltham Forest Direct Shops - during opening hours.

Other background documents can be downloaded using the following links:

Consultation statement with summary of representations and the Council responses (419KB PDF file)

Annual monitoring reports

This report monitors the success of development plan policies – assessing the extent to which policies have been implemented and related national and local targets met.

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See also

Contact details

  • Spatial Planning Team

    Environment & Regeneration Sycamore House Waltham Forest Town Hall Complex Forest Road
    London
    E17 4JF
    Phone: 020 8496 3000
    Email: planning.policy@walthamforest.gov.uk