Local development planning - regulations and guidance consultation: part C - local development planning - draft guidance

Annex B – Section 15(5) Matters

The list below is of those matters identified in section 15(5) of the 1997 Act, as amended, which the planning authority must set out their view on in the Evidence Report and which must be taken into account when preparing the LDP’s Spatial Strategy.

• the principal physical, cultural, economic, social, built heritage and environmental characteristics of the district;
• the principal purposes for which the land is used;
• the size, composition, health and distribution of the population of the district;
• the housing needs of the population of the area, including, in particular, the needs of persons undertaking further and higher education, older people and disabled people;
• the availability of land in the district for housing, including for older people and disabled people;
• the desirability of allocating land for the purposes of resettlement;
• the health needs of the population of the district and the likely effects of development and use of land on those health needs;
• the education needs of the population of the district and the likely effects of development and use of land on those education needs;
• the extent to which there are rural areas within the district in relation to which there has been a substantial decline in population;
• the capacity of education services in the district;
• the desirability of maintaining an appropriate number and range of cultural venues and facilities (including in particular, but not limited to, live music venues) in the district;
• the infrastructure of the district (including communications, transport and drainage systems, systems for the supply of water and energy, and health care and education facilities);
• how that infrastructure is used;
• any change which the planning authority thinks may occur in relation to any of the matters mentioned above.