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BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement: Vol. 2 Main Text
4. Planning Context and Policies
Introduction
4.1 This chapter sets out the specific planning background that has informed the development of the
Dissolved Acetylene Project and the content of the Planning Application. It also refers to other
relevant Planning Applications and consultation, indicating where these have influenced the
Project. An evaluation of the proposed development in relation to pertinent national, regional and
local planning policies is provided in Chapter 17.
Planning Policy
4.2 Planning Applications are assessed against the content of the Development Plan. During the
period of development of the Project, the composition of the Development Plan and its content
has continued to evolve. Currently, the Development Plan is represented by the Regional Spatial
Strategy (RSS) for Yorkshire and Humber (The Yorkshire and Humber Plan) to 2026, and the
saved policies from the Adopted North East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2003 (the Local Plan). It is
noted that the Coalition Government has stated an intention to abolish the regional planning
structure and revoke RSSs. Following a series of court cases into the legality of RSS abolition (via
the Localism Bill), Chief Planning Officers across England have been advised that RSSs currently
remain part of the Development Plan; however, the intended abolition of RSSs should form a
material consideration in assigning weight to RSS policies in the determination of Planning
Applications.
4.3 In addition to the Development Plan, proposals should be developed in accordance with national
planning policies. These policies are expressed in Planning Policy Guidance (PPGs) and PPSs.
The contents of national policies form material considerations in the determination of Planning
Applications. The North East Lincolnshire Local Development Framework (LDF) is also under
preparation and, once adopted, will supersede the Local Plan as part of the Development Plan. As
the Development Plan Documents (DPDs) that will comprise the LDF are published, and subject
to consultation, they gain increasing weight as material considerations in the determination of
Planning Applications.
4.4 For the purposes of the ES, the aim is for specialist assessment work to demonstrate that
development is acceptable in terms of potential impacts on the environment. In this respect, this
Chapter is not intended as a Planning Supporting Statement presenting the overall case for the
development, but rather, identifies policies that are relevant to the consideration of the likely
environmental effects of the proposed development. In this context, relevance is governed by the
following factors:
� policies identifying quantified compliance standards for development proposals; and
� policies presenting qualitative criteria to be met by development proposals.
4.5 As part of the EIA process, the environmental specialists have been made aware of relevant
policies. This has ensured that the planning policy context for the development is known and
reflected in the execution of the EIA. This approach ensures that the design of the Project has
evolved in an awareness of planning policy and that the design and control measures proposed
within the ES have been developed in an awareness of the compliance standards and criteria
specific to North East Lincolnshire.
5100935.404 Environmental Statement August 2011 45