Core strategies

All local authorities must produce a core strategy as part of their local development framework. The core strategy is a vital tool in helping to deliver quality, so getting it right is one of the most important tasks facing planners today.

Planning for places: delivering good design through core strategies helps local authorities take a spatial approach to writing their core strategy as part of a local development framework.

How to write a good core strategy

You can read the advice from Planning for places below:

Background

An efficient planning system and a good spatial plan are essential to achieving high-quality places and good design.

Tell the story

A good core strategy needs to tell the story of the place. This should be told in the vision and in the strategy itself.

Set the agenda

The core strategy is where the tough decisions need to be made. A good core strategy sets the agenda and says how it will be achieved.

Say it clearly

A good core strategy is written in language that people can understand. This is not always easy within the framework of statutory planning, but if a compelling story is told and priorities are identified clearly the strategy can be presented coherently.