Supplementary Planning Documents and Additional Planning Guidance
Supplementary Planning Documents, good practice and other guidance documents are produced by the Council to provide further information and advice to the public, applicants and developers on the implementation of specific planning policies. These will be taken into account when determining planning applications.
Please note: some of these documents may not be suitable for visually impaired people.
Planning Application Requirements
The Council's current validation of planning applications policy provides a national and local list of requirements for plans and documents required in support of a planning application.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 1 - Rotherham Town Centre (Adopted July 2016)
This sets out a vision for transforming Rotherham town centre. It provides guidance for proposed development within and on the edge of the town centre. The document is in two parts: the Supplementary Planning Document and an accompanying map.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 2 - Air Quality and Emissions (Adopted June 2020)
This identifies when air quality assessments will be required, how these should be undertaken, and provides guidance on mitigation measures to offset potential effects of pollution upon health and the local environment.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 3 - Development in the Green Belt (Adopted June 2020)
This provides guidance relevant to proposals which involve development within the Green Belt.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 4 - Householder Design Guide (Adopted June 2020)
This sets out detailed advice and guidance on domestic household extensions.
Supplementary Planning Document No.5 – Equal and Healthy Communities (Adopted June 2020)
This provides guidance on how equality, health and wellbeing should be considered in the design of development. It also includes restrictions on the location of new hot food takeaways within 800 metres of schools and colleges.
Equal and Healthy Communities Checklist is available to download in both PDF and Microsoft Word format.
Equality and Healthy Communities Checklist in Microsoft Word format.
Equality and Healthy Communities Checklist in PDF format.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 6 - Shop Front Design Guide (Adopted June 2020)
This provides guidance for retail and commercial units wishing to install or replace a shop front.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 7 - Town Centre Uses and Developments (Adopted June 2020)
This sets out guidance to assist applicants when submitting planning applications for main town centre uses which require sequential and/or impact test assessments. It also sets out how policies relating to development within Primary and Secondary Shopping Frontages will be implemented.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 8 - Affordable Housing
This sets out additional guidance to assist developers on the delivery of affordable housing. It clarifies the Council’s approach and how it will seek to ensure appropriate provision of affordable housing in new developments. It also sets out how viability issues will be considered.
Interim Policy Statement: First Homes Local Eligibility Criteria
From 28 December 2021, all local authorities are required to implement the First Homes national policy. One quarter (25%) of the required affordable housing units on each development, will now be brought forward as First Homes. These new homes are discounted at 30% below the market sale price. In addition to mandatory national criteria, the Council has approved local eligibility criteria. The local eligibility criteria are published in the Interim Policy Statement.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 9 - Development Viability
This guidance sets out overarching principles that the Council, as the local planning authority, will apply in evaluating development viability as part of the planning application decision process.
It details the approach applicants shall follow if they contest viability, the evidence that must be presented, and the format in which this must be provided.
A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is available to download to assist in providing information to the Council. The spreadshee contains the formulae used in the Viability Review Mechanisms.
SPD9 Development Viability Formula Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 10 - Community Facilities
This sets out guidance on how the Council will implement policies seeking to secure new community facility provision as part of new developments, and protect against the loss of community facilities.
It sets out the Council’s approach and the information or evidence that an applicant is expected to provide.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 11 - Natural Environment
This provides guidance to support developers in considering the natural environment, particularly wildlife habitats and species, and geology, within development proposals. It includes general principles, detailed advice regarding specific habitats and species, and ecological survey requirements.
Supplementary Planning Document No. 12 - Transport Assessments, Travel Plans and Parking Standards
This provides a guide for developers and applicants about the general principles applicable to parking and sustainable transport and how these are considered through the planning process. It sets out a methodology for preparing transport assessment, provides advice and guidance on the formulation of travel plans for all types of developments, and sets out parking standards for new developments.
SPD12 Transport Assessments Travel Plans and Parking Standards.
South Yorkshire Residential Design Guide
This guidance is intended for use by residential developers and their design professionals, consultants and agents in formulating designs and making applications for planning permission for residential development.
Flood Risk and Drainage
All Councils must consider flood risk when making decisions on planning applications. This allows us to limit risks for new and existing developments. The Council’s Flood Risk Toolkit provides guidance on managing flood risk within the borough. Guidance for developers is also available from the Environment Agency.
The South Yorkshire Interim Local Guidance for Sustainable Drainage Systems provides minimum recommended standards for the development of sustainable drainage systems.
Contaminated Land
The Council has adopted guidance from the local Pollution Advisory Council, which now forms part of the decision-making process for planning applications. The guidance requires a contamination assessment to be submitted for most developments on contaminated land.
Landscape
The Landscape Design Guide sets out design considerations which need to be addressed in the design and implementation of landscape schemes for small scale non-contentious development schemes.