The Birmingham Plan - Unitary Development Plan 2005

The Unitary Development Plan (UDP) contains policies and proposals that currently guide development and land use across the City and is the existing Development Plan for Birmingham.

In time, the UDP will replaced by the Birmingham Development Plan and other key planning policy documents currently being prepared, known as Development Plan Documents. Once approved, these documents will form the statutory Development Plan for Birmingham and will be the main basis for planning application decisions.

These strategic documents alongside Supplementary Planning Documents will shape the Local Development Framework, the portfolio of planning policies for Birmingham. The programme for preparing these documents is set out in the Council’s Local Development Scheme.

The Regional Spatial Strategy is to be revoked following the Localism Act (2011) and will no longer form part of the Development Plan.

Development Plan Documents

We have already approved one Development Plan Document, the Longbridge Area Action Plan (April 2009). This provides a detailed framework for the redevelopment of the former Austin Rover car plant at Longbridge and replaces sections of the UDP relating to Longbridge, specifically

• Part of paras 6.30, 19.8, 19.9A and 19.35 and
• Paras 19.19 – 19.19D are now deleted

Three other Development Plan Documents are in preparation:

• The Draft Birmingham Development Plan - The central Development Plan Document, which will set out an overall city-wide spatial strategy for Birmingham to 2028. It will replace chapters 2 – 7 of the UDP.
• The Aston, Newtown and Lozells Area Action Plan will provide a detailed framework for change and regeneration in the Aston/Newtown/Lozells area. It will replace parts of chapters 11 and 12 of the UDP.
• The Draft Bordesley Park Area Action Plan will provide a detailed framework for the Bordesley area. It will replace parts of chapters 14 and 17 of the UDP.

UDP Saved Policies

In September 2008, the Secretary of State agreed to save all but three policies in the UDP until they are replaced by Development Plan Documents.

The three policies which have not been saved are:

• Heartlands policies in chapter 2 which were out of date (paras 2.27 – 2.38)
• Office campus policies in chapter 4 which were inconsistent with government planning guidance contained in Planning Policy Statement 4 (para 4.45)
• Housing requirements in chapter 5, previously replaced by the Regional Spatial Strategy (policy CF3). This will now be set out in the Core Strategy.

These paragraphs have therefore been deleted from the UDP (2005).

The Proposals Map

The Proposals Map is a map of Birmingham showing all the policies and proposals contained in the UDP and approved Longbridge Area Action Plan. It will be further updated when new Development Plan Documents are approved.

An interactive version of the Proposals Map is available here. Alternatively paper copies of the Proposals Map can be purchased at a price of £5.00. Please contact us if you require a copy.

Paper copies of the UDP 2005 document are also available priced at £20.00 + £6.00 postage. Again, please contact us to order a copy.

The UDP was adopted in 1993 and reviewed in 2005. The review took the form of alterations to the adopted plan. The UDP (2005) is available below.

Last Updated : 29th October 2012