If you sign up for this topic, you will receive information when Worcestershire County Council develops, reviews or updates policies and guidance on the following subjects: 

Biodiversity Net Gain

The Biodiversity Net Gain mandate on Local Planning Authorities is legislated for by the Environment Act. The Council may publish local policies and guidance to set out its priorities and preferred approach for maximising the potential benefits of Biodiversity Net Gain investment in Worcestershire.    

Green Infrastructure

The Council prepares a Green Infrastructure Strategy for the county on behalf of the Worcestershire Green Infrastructure Partnership. The document will be reviewed on a five-year cycle, or as agreed by Worcestershire Green Infrastructure Partnership.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The Worcestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) sets out a statement of biodiversity priorities for Worcestershire and a local habitat map identifying areas that are or which could become important for biodiversity. The Council is the legally appointed “responsible authority” for the LNRS. The LNRS was adopted in 2026 and will be reviewed on a timescale indicated by central Government. 

Landscape Character Assessment

The county Landscape Character Assessment identifies the patterns and features – both natural and man-made – that make each landscape type within Worcestershire distinct and special. The original Landscape Character Assessment was published in 1999, with an updated Supplementary Guidance document published in 2012. 

Worcestershire Habitat Inventory

This is a spatial mapping tool that displays land use and habitat data for the whole county at a field-by-field scale. The mapping was updated between 2020-21. The Council used the Worcestershire Habitat Inventory and the county Biodiversity Action Plan as key evidence bases for the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Worcestershire Pollinator Strategy

This document was published in 2020 in response to the Council’s declaration for Worcestershire to be a ‘pollinator friendly county’. It brings together aims and objectives from the Worcestershire Biodiversity Action Plan that are specific to pollinators and their habitats. 

If you sign up for this topic, you may also receive information about other policies and procedures relating to environmental policy matters, should new topics or requirements arise.

If you sign up for this topic, you will receive information when Worcestershire County Council develops, reviews or updates its minerals planning policy documents. This is likely to include:

Minerals Plan Document 

The current Minerals Local Plan was adopted in July 2022. It sets out the Council's planning policies for mineral development, including how much and what minerals we need to be able to supply, where minerals should be extracted, how sites should be worked and how they should be "restored" when working has finished and how minerals development should ensure Worcestershire's communities are protected and enhanced.

Under new planning legislation, when this plan is reviewed and revised, it will form part of the Minerals and Waste Plan for the county. The process for developing new minerals and waste plans is complex, but includes multiple opportunities for people to both hear about, and help to shape the plan as it develops.

Anyone signed up for updates on the ‘Minerals Planning Policy’ topic will be notified at each of the plan stages set out in Regulation 45(5)(d) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

Minerals and Waste Development Framework Authority Monitoring Report (AMR)

This document monitors progress in preparing Local Development Documents that form part of the Minerals and Waste Development Framework, and the extent to which existing minerals and waste policies are being implemented and whether the effects of the policies are as intended. While the most recent AMR and a library of historic AMRs remain available on our website, legislative changes mean that AMRs no longer have to be produced. A new monitoring framework will be established in due course. 

Local Aggregates Assessment (LAA)

This document is an assessment of the demand for and supply of aggregates in the county. Its prime purpose is to assist Worcestershire County Council in its responsibility to plan for the steady and adequate supply of aggregate minerals. The LAA informs the development and monitoring of minerals planning policy in the county and is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. LAAs are published approximately every year.

Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)

This document set out how Worcestershire County Council would seek the involvement of people and organisations in the production of minerals and waste planning policy (as well as involvement in the planning of minerals and waste management and Worcestershire County Council developments such as new libraries, schools, roads and railway stations, as set out under the ‘Planning Application Procedures’ section on this page). This document was last updated in 2021 Legislative changes mean that no further SCIs will be produced. The SCI will be replaced in due course with information on how we will engage on our plan-making.

If you sign up for this topic, you will receive information when Worcestershire County Council reviews or updates the following documents: 

Validation Document

This document contains guidance on the information and documents required by Worcestershire County Council to support proposals for development when submitting a planning application. This document is likely to be reviewed and updated approximately every two years, or following significant changes to national or local policy.

Enforcement Plan

This document sets out the objectives and priorities that Worcestershire County Council will seek to follow in pursuance of its monitoring and enforcement responsibilities, including the investigation of alleged cases of unauthorised development, and it assists the Council in considering the most appropriate action to take on specific enforcement and monitoring issues. This document is likely to be reviewed and updated approximately every five years or if there is a significant change in legislation, national or local policy.

Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)

This document set out how Worcestershire County Council would seek the involvement of people and organisations in the planning of minerals and waste management and Worcestershire County Council developments such as new libraries, schools, roads and railway stations (as well as involvement in the development and adoption of minerals and waste planning policy, as set out under the ‘Minerals Planning Policy’ and ‘Waste Planning Policy’ sections on this page). This document was last updated in 2021. Legislative changes mean that no further SCIs will be produced. The SCI will be replaced in due course with information on how we will engage on planning decision-making.

If you sign up for this topic, you may also receive information about other policies and procedures which are directly related to the processes of applying for or assessing planning applications, or monitoring or enforcing development. 

Please note: signing up for this topic will NOT give you information on any individual planning applications. If you want information on specific planning applications, please go to Planning Applications.

Planning Policy and Strategy (other than minerals and waste) 

If you sign up for this topic, you will receive information when Worcestershire County Council develops, reviews or updates policies and guidance on the subjects listed below. You may also receive information about other planning policy and strategy matters.

Infrastructure Planning

The Council may develop infrastructure strategy documents based on national and county-wide need, as necessary. 

Planning research documents

Worcestershire County Council periodically publishes planning research documents which provide good practice and high-level identification of key sustainable development issues such as climate change, soils, and water management and how they should be addressed from a planning perspective. These documents will be reviewed or new documents developed as necessary.

If you sign up for this topic, you will receive information when Worcestershire County Council develops, reviews or updates policies and guidance on the subjects listed below. You may also receive information about other planning policy and strategy matters.

Infrastructure Planning

The Council may develop infrastructure strategy documents based on national and county-wide need, as necessary. 

Planning research documents

Worcestershire County Council periodically publishes planning research documents which provide good practice and high-level identification of key sustainable development issues such as climate change, soils, and water management and how they should be addressed from a planning perspective. These documents will be reviewed or new documents developed as necessary.

If you sign up for this topic, you will receive information when Worcestershire County Council reviews or updates its waste planning policy documents. This is likely to include:

Waste Plan Document

The current Waste Core Strategy was adopted in November 2012. This document sets out the Council's planning policies for the development of waste management facilities, including how much and what types of waste management development are required, and how waste management development should ensure Worcestershire's communities are protected and enhanced. 

Under new planning legislation, when this plan is reviewed and revised, it will form part of the Minerals and Waste Plan for the county. The process for developing new minerals and waste plans is complex, but includes multiple opportunities for people to both hear about, and help to shape the plan as it develops. 

Anyone signed up for updates on the ‘Waste Planning Policy’ topic will be notified at each of the plan stages set out in Regulation 45(5)(d) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

Minerals and Waste Development Framework Authority Monitoring Report (AMR)

This document monitors progress in preparing Local Development Documents that form part of the Minerals and Waste Development Framework, and the extent to which existing minerals and waste policies are being implemented and whether the effects of the policies are as intended. While the most recent AMR and a library of historic AMRs  remain available on our website, legislative changes mean that no further AMRs will be produced, and a new monitoring framework will be established in due course. 

Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)

This document set out how Worcestershire County Council would seek the involvement of people and organisations in the production of minerals and waste planning policy (as well as involvement in the planning of minerals and waste management and Worcestershire County Council developments such as new libraries, schools, roads and railway stations, as set out under the ‘Planning Application Procedures’ section on this page). This document was last updated in 2021. Legislative changes mean that no further SCIs will be produced. The SCI will be replaced in due course with information on how we will engage on our plan-making.

Please note: signing up for this topic will NOT mean that you will be consulted on any aspect of Worcestershire County Council’s work as the “Waste Disposal Authority”. If you are interested in the Council’s work as Waste Disposal Authority, please go to Waste and Recycling.