Local Development Scheme - 2025 to 2027

The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the planning documents that we intend to produce as part of the Council’s Development Plan. It tells you:

• the purpose and status of each planning document

• the stages of production

• the anticipated timetable

Download the latest Local Development Scheme

The latest LDS establishes a revised work programme to produce the borough-wide Local Plan.

The Council has a statutory duty to prepare, monitor and review its planning policy documents. Section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) states that the Council is required to set out current planning policy documents, and any new or replacement documents that it intends to produce in the future.

This Local Development Scheme will cover the period from January 2025 to December 2027. 

There have been significant changes to the planning system in the period since the last LDS was approved in February 2024. Most notably the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework at the end of 2024, which included several significant changes to planning policy, including a requirement for Local planning authorities to publish an up-to-date Local Development Scheme within 12 weeks of the publication of the new NPPF. 

Local planning authorities that have not reached the Regulation 19 stage of plan-making within three months of the framework's publication must update their draft plans to ensure they align with the revised framework before submitting them for examination. At a regional level, The London Plan was also published in 2021 which confirmed the Council’s housing target.

The documents that comprise the borough’s current Development Plan

The London Plan (adopted in 2021) is the Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London. It sets out a framework for how London will develop over the next 20-25 years and the Mayor of London’s vision for Good Growth. Boroughs’ Local Plans must be in ‘general conformity’ with the London Plan, ensuring that the planning system for London operates in a joined-up way and reflects the overall strategy for how London can develop sustainably.

The South London Waste Plan (adopted in 2022) was jointly prepared in partnership with the London Boroughs of Croydon, Merton and Sutton. The Waste Plan includes policies for deciding planning applications for waste facilities and safeguards existing waste sites.

The Core Strategy (2012) sets out the vision, objectives and policies for managing future growth, change and development within the Borough for the period up to 2027. Upon adoption, the Local Plan will replace the Core Strategy as a response to the latest national and regional policy legislation. 

The Kingston Town Centre Area Action Plan (adopted in 2008) set out a framework for future developments in Kingston Town Centre up to 2020. Upon adoption, the new Local Plan will replace the Area Action Plan as a response to the latest national and regional policy and legislation.

In addition to the above mentioned plans that make up the statutory Development Plan, the Council also produces other documents which either provide additional guidance to people applying for planning permission, or provide information to applicants and others on community involvement, or monitoring.