Land Availability Assessment

A Land Availability Assessment (LAA) is a detailed document that identifies and assesses land to support future development.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires local planning authorities to identify and maintain at least a five year supply of deliverable and developable land for housing. The LAA assesses whether sites submitted to the council for housing are either Deliverable (suitable, achievable and available) or Developable (suitable with a reasonable prospect of being available at a specific point in time) for future housing development. As a 'live' document the assessment is updated on an annual basis. The LAA was previously known as the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA).

The LAA is an important technical piece of evidence. The study is not a statement of council policy and does not in itself determine whether a site should be allocated for development. The LAA assessment of the sites does not carry weight in planning decisions, nor is the assessment council advice. It is a technical document which assesses whether a site could be 'suitable' for development. Further work would be needed to include the site within the development plan, and the normal planning application process would have to be followed before approval was granted.

Sites within the South Downs National Park

The South Downs National Part Authority is the planning authority inside the South Downs National Park. Sites within the park should be submitted directly to the Park Authority. Visit the South Downs National Park Authority website for details.