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Planning Policy

The Planning Policy Service write the policies and guidance documents that set out the location and design of development within the area. The Planning Policy pages provide information on the existing Local Plan, the accompanying proposals maps, planning guidance for people wanting to submit planning applications, and the work the Council is currently doing on the new Local Development Plan.

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Craven District Council is the Local Planning Authority for the part of the District that falls outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the policies and guidance produced by the Planning Policy Team relate to this area only. 

Please follow the links below for further information on the various functions performed by Planning Policy.

  • Latest Planning Policy News

    This page gives you information on what the Planning Policy Team is currently working on. The most recent issues of the Planning Focus Newsletter and Housing Position Statement are also available to download.

  • Current Craven Development Plan

    The Council is currently using saved policies from the 1999 Adopted Local Plan the Craven District (outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park). If a planning application is submitted which is clearly contrary to the Local Plan it is unlikely to be granted permission. Planning Guidance has also been produced to clarify the Council's position on other issues which are not covered by policies from the Saved Local Plan.

  • Writing New Policies - The Local Development Plan

    The Council is in the process of writing a new Local Development Plan for the District (outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park), which will replace the saved policies from the 1999 Local Plan. The new Local Development Plan will contain strategic policies and will identify development sites to meet the needs of Craven up to 2026.

  • Planning Studies

    The Planning Policy Team has undertaken a number of studies to gather information on the District. The findings of these studies will inform the preparation of new planning policies within the Local Development Plan, and will be used to justify policy decisions.

  • Planning Policy Monitoring

    The Planning Policy Team carry out regular monitoring work to keep track of changes within the District and to gather information on how policies in the Local Plan are being used.

  • Regional Planning Policies

    The Yorkshire and Humber Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) to 2026, was revoked on 22nd February 2013 and no longer forms part of the development plan for Craven.

  • Planning Policy Quick Finder

    Browse through an A to Z list of all pages and documents within the Planning Policy section to quickly find what you're looking for.

  • Services performed by NYCC

    Craven District Council is a 'two-tier' authority under North Yorkshire County Council. This means that some planning functions are done by the County Council rather than Craven District Council (e.g. preparing Local Plans for minerals and waste). This page has some useful links to pages on the North Yorkshire County Council website.

  • Neighbourhood Planning

    Neighbourhood Plans were introduced by the Localism Act as a way for communities to have a greater influence on the future of their town or village. This page contains information and guidance on what Neighbourhood Plans are and how they should be prepared.