FAQs: Local Plan

As a Local Planning Authority, we have a duty to prepare a Local Plan. The Local Plan sets out our strategy for development within its area and contains the policies that will be used to direct development and determine applications across the entire OPDC area.

Further details on the purpose of Local Plans.

Once a Local Plan has been approved, it covers a minimum period of 15 years. We're proposing for the Local Plan to cover 20 years. However, once it’s adopted, it’s likely that issues will change and it will need to be reviewed during its lifetime.

We do not currently have a specified review date. We are required to produce an Annual Authority Monitoring Report (AMR). The purpose of this is to monitor the success and whether there is a need for a review.

The Local Plan has to be consistent with both national planning policy and conform with regional planning policy. The policies have to be established on a sound research and evidence base.

The policies in the draft Local Plan are informed by a number of supporting studies.

19,850 homes are proposed over the 20-year plan period, ending in 2038. We are proposing that 13,700 homes will be delivered in the first ten years. Between 35 - 50% of all new homes will be genuinely affordable.

We consulted on the Main Modifications (the main changes we made to the Local Plan) in summer 2021. Main Modifications are changes which affect the ‘soundness’ of the Local Plan that ultimately enable it to be adopted. ‘Soundness’ relates to whether the Plan meets development needs, is supported by evidence, can be delivered and is consistent with national policy

A total of 30% of the Local Plan area will be open, green public space. This includes a 2-hectare public park in Channel Gate, close by to both new and existing residential communities.

As well as the new £1.3bn Old Oak Common Station connecting HS2, Crossrail and the Great Western Mainline, we are safeguarding for the provision for a new Overground Station at Old Oak and upgrading Willesden Junction Station and North Acton Station. We are also proposing new walking and cycling connections.

A mixture of homes, jobs and high streets with shops and local facilities, in walkable proximity to transport connections and open, public space.

Helpful comparisons for the scale and height of developments include Kings Cross, Elephant Park and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Around 36,350 new jobs are planned over the 20-year planned period (a change from 40,400). However, we are increasing the amount of industrial employment space as part of the proposed changes by 250,000 sqm.

When we receive planning applications we go through a detailed process of making sure each scheme is minimising numbers of HGV movement in and out of the construction site, and that they have robust safety measures in place that ensure the public are protected from large vehicle movement. We have ambitions plans to redesign the street – looking at addressing public safety and addressing blinds spots where there is a greater risk to the public and pedestrians. The Local plan looks at new public realm delivered that will start to improve streets for pedestrians and cyclists and address those challenging points of HGV’s.