The Local Development Scheme is required under Section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act to be prepared by the relevant Local Planning Authority. This scheme sets out the intensions of the District Council as Local Planning Authority over a three-year timeframe, providing a programme for the preparation and review of the various Local Development Documents that will make up the Local Development Framework to guide development across the District up to 2025.

The Mid Suffolk Local Development Scheme is currently being revised to take account of the proposed Government changes to the Local Development Framework process, further work required for the Core Strategy Pre-Examination process and staff changes within the Planning Policy Team. In line with advice from Government Office, Mid Suffolk are now progressing a ‘draft’ Local Development Scheme during this interim period, which will maintain the previous December 2006 LDS where possible. The proposed timetable will be formally adopted once the Government changes are finalized, which is expected in summer 2008, but is potentially subject to change.

The Local Development Scheme is the document that everyone can use to find out what Mid Suffolk District Council is proposing to do and when, and at what stage they can expect to be involved in the planning process.