Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement

• The principal physical, cultural, economic, social, built heritage and environmental characteristics of the district;
• The principal purposes for which the land is used;
• The size, composition, health and distribution of the population of the district;
• The housing needs of the population of the area, including, in particular, the needs of persons undertaking further and higher education, older people, disabled people;
• The availability of land in the district for housing, including for older people and disabled people;
• The desirability of allocating land for the purposes of resettlement;
• The health needs of the population of the district and the likely effects of development and use of land on those health needs;
• The education needs of the population of the district and the likely effects of development and use of land on those education needs;
• The extent to which there are rural areas within the district in relation to which there has been a substantial decline in population;
• The capacity of education services in the district;
• The desirability of maintaining an appropriate number and range of cultural venues and facilities (including in particular, but not limited to, live music venues) in the district;
• The infrastructure of the district (including communications, transport and drainage systems, systems for the supply of water and energy, and health care and education facilities); [the reference to energy includes land available for the development and use of facilities for renewable sources of energy.
• How that infrastructure is used; and
• Any change which the planning authority thinks may occur in relation to any of the matters mentioned above

The Evidence Report must also set out the following:

• A summary of the action taken by the planning authority to support and promote the construction and adaptation of housing to meet the housing needs of older people and disabled people in the authority's area, and analysis of the extent to which the action has helped to meet those needs.
• A summary of the action taken by the planning authority to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers in the authority’s area, and an analysis of the extent to which that action has helped to meet those needs.
• How the authority has invited local communities to prepare LPPs, and what assistance they have provided.