What is a Local Plan ‘Call for sites’?

 The purpose of a call for sites

The purpose of the call for sites is purely to identify locations where the landowner would be happy for development to take place.

This is one of the early steps in making a Local Plan, a strategic plan which sets the framework for development across a local authority area. 

The exercise is one of several mechanisms that help the planning authority decide where to locate the different types of development it has identified it needs. Others include reviewing the authority’s own land and brownfield register as well as encouraging owners of sites it has identified as having potential for development to bring them forward.

Just because a location has been submitted, however, does not mean the local authority will allocate the site for development purposes. The outcome of a call for sites is effectively no more than a developers’ wish list. 

Look at a typical local authority map showing sites submitted, and you will see a large number of greenfield sites at random locations that make no sense (apart from developer profit motive). And it is not unusual for the total amount of land included to far exceed development needs. 

Many sites will therefore be ruled out during the assessment process. 

Assessing potential sites and identifying the most sustainable  locations

A key part of the Local Plan making process involves assessing the list of potential sites to identify which best meet local requirements. 

The assessment process involves considering what land is both available and suitable for housing and economic development over the period of the Plan and where such development would be achievable/economically viable. 

In assessing sites, local authorities must take account of multiple constraints, including local and national planning policies and guidance. 

National planning policy – brownfield first

Local Plans must follow the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This is a lengthy document, but is underpinned by a brownfield first approach (at least in theory – the approach has been weakened by the recently-introduced concept of grey belt).  

This brownfield first approach includes requirements to: 

• make ‘as much use as possible of previously-developed or brownfield land‘ 

• ‘give substantial weight to the value of using suitable brownfield land’ 

• ‘promote and support the development of under-utilised land and buildings, especially if this would help to meet identified needs for housing where land supply is constrained’ 

As a key part of our role in protecting the countryside, we regularly challenge proposals in emerging Local Plans to allocate greenfield land for development, reminding local authorities of their responsibilities under the NPPF. 

We also lobby constantly for local authorities to keep brownfield registers up to date. Despite a requirement for the registers to be updated annually, this often doesn’t happen. Members of the public can suggest sites for brownfield registers – CPRE’s brownfield land register toolkit gives useful information to help you do this.

Local planning policies

Local planning policies derive from the local authority’s strategic development objectives. A typical development strategy will take into account a wide range of environmental, social and economic factors and identify a hierarchy of priority areas for development. Sites within the priority areas are then much more likely to be selected as development land in the Local Plan, with other sites only likely to be considered if housing targets cannot be met in the priority areas. 

Making the decisions

Once this assessment is complete, the information is used to decide which sites will best meet development requirements and compile a draft Local Plan. The Plan-making process involves mandatory public consultation. 

All draft Local Plans must be examined by an Inspector from the national Planning Inspectorate for regulatory compliance before being approved for adoption by the local planning authority. 

More information

Explaining Local Plans – CPRE Cheshire 

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – GOV.UK 

Housing and economic land availability assessment guidance – GOV.UK