Plans Evaluation
Under the Acts of 2024 and 2000, the OPR assesses all statutory forward planning. This helps make sure plans support proper planning and sustainable development.
This includes assessing:
- City and county development plans
- Area plans
- Variations/amendments to these plans
- Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies of the regional assemblies (Act of 2024)
First, the OPR gives the local authority its recommendations and/or observations on how a plan should meet legislative and policy matters.
The local authority must then outline how it will address these recommendations and observations, taking account of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
If the adopted plan is not consistent with any statutory recommendations, the OPR can take further action. The OPR may recommend to the Minister that a direction is issued, to direct the local authority to address the matter.
The OPR can also assess a development plan at any time. The OPR can do this at any time it chooses to, or after a request by the Minister, or if the Minister, a regional assembly, or a local authority notifies the OPR that they believe that part of the plan is materially inconsistent with planning policy or legislation.
If the OPR forms a preliminary view, during an assessment, that the plan or any part of the plan may be materially inconsistent with planning policy or legislation, the OPR can either:
- send a notice to the local authority to pause the plan (or part of it) until the assessment is finished, or
- continue its assessment before making a final decision.
Watch our video to learn more about how this process works.
Click here for more information on live public consultations on statutory plans; submissions the OPR has made to local authorities about their statutory plans; pre-direction suspensions, draft directions, and final directions; and letters sent to local authorities after adopted plans have been assessed.
