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Supplementary Planning Documents

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) add further detail to the policies in the Local Plan.

SPDs have been subject to public consultation and are a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Contents

CONSULTATION: East Midlands Freeport Strategic Infrastructure and Contributions SPD

Consultation deadline: 5pm Monday 27 April 2026 

North West Leicestershire District Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council and South Derbyshire District Council are consulting on the draft East Midlands Freeport Strategic Infrastructure and Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Rushcliffe Borough Council is running this consultation on behalf of the three authorities. 

The SPD provides planning guidance on how contributions will be secured for necessary strategic infrastructure to support development at the East Midlands Freeport (EMF) sites:

  • East Midlands Airport and Gateway Industrial Cluster (EMAGIC) within North West Leicestershire 
  • East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP) within South Derbyshire
  • Former Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station within Rushcliffe

The SPD will help ensure the coordinated and collaborative delivery and funding of necessary transport and other infrastructure for these sites. In addition, the SPD will help ensure that strategic allocations in adopted and emerging Local Plans, which are not within the EMF sites, make appropriate and proportionate contributions towards this strategic infrastructure where they will benefit from it. Further information on the Freeport itself can be found at www.emfreeport.com 

The Councils are consulting on the draft SPD and supporting Strategic Environmental Assessment until 5pm on Monday 27 April 2026.

The SPD and associated documents are available to view below.

If you wish to comment, please do so:

If you have any questions, please call Planning Policy on 0115 981 9911, or email us at localdevelopment@rushcliffe.gov.uk

ADOPTION: East of Gamston/North of Tollerton Development Framework SPD

The East of Gamston/North of Tollerton Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted by the Council on Tuesday 10 March 2026.

The SPD provides planning guidance and a masterplan for development on the site to the east of Gamston and north of Tollerton, including Tollerton Airfield, which is allocated for 4,000 new homes, new employment development, supporting facilities and other uses. It will be used in the determination of relevant planning applications.

The adoption of the SPD is accompanied by the following documents:

A higher resolution version of the SPD by chapter is available below:

A legal statement has been prepared regarding the process of preparing the SPD.

For further information about the Tollerton Airfield part of the site, please see www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/tollertonairfield

Developer Contributions SPD

The Developer Contributions SPD was adopted by the Council on Tuesday 9 December 2025.

The purpose of the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is to provide information about the provision of and/or financial contributions towards infrastructure. The SPD identifies cases where infrastructure provision (including financial contributions) will be sought and secured through planning conditions, planning obligations or Section 278 highway agreements. The SPD forms a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications.

Low Carbon and Sustainable Design SPD

The Low Carbon And Sustainable Design SPD was adopted by the Borough Council on Tuesday 11 July 2023. 

The SPD provides further guidance on the application of the Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy Policy 2 (Climate Change). It serves to provide guidance for the preparation and determination of planning applications, including a checklist guide for developers to assist in the submission of planning applications.

Affordable Housing SPD

The Affordable Housing SPD was adopted by the Borough Council on Tuesday 8 February 2022.

The SPD supplements relevant policies in the Rushcliffe Local Plan and the application of national affordable housing planning policies and guidance within Rushcliffe. It serves to provide guidance for the preparation and determination of planning applications where an affordable housing contribution is required.

Melton Road Edwalton Development Framework SPD

The Melton Road Development Framework SPD was adopted by the Borough Council on Tuesday 13 October 2015.

It provides further guidance on the application of the following:

Wind Energy SPD

The Wind Energy SPD was adopted by the Borough Council on 9 June 2015.

It provides further guidance on the application of the following policies of:

Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy

  • Policy 2 (Climate Change);
  • Policy 10 (Design and Local Identity);
  • Policy 11 (Historic Environment);
  • Policy 16 (Green Infrastructure, Landscape, Parks and Open Spaces);
  • Policy 17 (Biodiversity)

and;

Local Plan Part 2: Land and Planning Policies

  • Policy 16 (Renewable Energy);

Associated documents:

A Landscape Sensitivity Study was jointly commissioned by Rushcliffe and Melton Councils, and was used as part of the evidence for the SPD.

Wind Energy SPD (accessible html)

Solar Farm Guide

The Solar Farm Guide was published in November 2022. It provides broad guidance on the planning policy context for major solar farm developments, the key material planning considerations likely to be relevant to the determination of planning applications for major solar farm developments within the Borough and examples of the information/documents that the Council expects should be submitted with planning applications for major solar farm developments.

Solar Farm Guide (accessible html)

Rushcliffe Design Code SPD

The Rushcliffe Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted by the Borough Council on 1 September 2025.

 

Planning Policy