SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)·Page 52·6.76
LDP Process and Environmental Evidence Base for Countryside Development
Local Development Plans should include environmental assets appraisal and landscape assessment to provide evidence for countryside development policy, taking into account Landscape Character Assessments.
The LDP process will play an important role for councils in identifying key features and assets of the countryside and balancing the needs of rural areas and communities with the protection of the environment. This should include an environmental assets appraisal and landscape assessment which will provide the evidence base for the purposes of bringing forward an appropriate policy approach to development in the countryside. This should take into account Landscape Character Assessments.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/regional/SPPS - Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025).pdf