The Local Development Scheme (LDS) is one of the documents which make up the Local Development Framework (LDF).  The LDS sets out Braintree District Council’s proposals for preparing new plans to guide development in the District for the period up to 2021.

The LDS has 3 main purposes:

- To inform the public of the documents that will make up the new planning policy framework and the timescales for the preparation of these documents
- To establish the priorities and a programme for preparing the documents and identifying the resources available
- To set out the arrangements for monitoring and reviewing the documents

The Local Development Scheme First Review, published in April 2007, replaces the original Local Development Scheme published in September 2005.

Following the acceptance by the LDF Panel of the recommendations in the Critical Friend Report, (and subsequent amendments to PPS12), the LDF Timetable is to be amended to allow additional time to prepare the Draft Core Strategy Document.  The LDS First Review and the timetable are proposed for amendment by Spring 2009.