Local development plans: Flintshire

Flintshire's local development plan: what it allows for, the sites it sets aside for building, and progress on a new plan.

All local development plans Planning applications

The plan in force

Flintshire Local Development Plan 2015-2030

Adopted on 24 January 2023. It covers 2015 to 2030.

The plan must be reviewed by January 2027. The council expected to consult on a review report in late 2026.

What the plan says

The main points of the plan on each topic, in plain language. Each point names the policy it comes from and links to the page. They were written automatically from the plan and checked against the words on that page, so read the policy itself before relying on one.

The overall plan

The plan's vision is to balance the economic, social and environmental needs of Flintshire, using its position as a regional gateway and area for economic investment while protecting its historic culture and natural environment. Page 25
The plan makes provision for 7,870 new homes to meet a housing requirement of 6,950, of which 2,265 will be affordable. Policy STR1, page 43
The plan distributes most growth across the upper three tiers of its settlement hierarchy, in the main and local service centres and the sustainable settlements. Page 35

Homes

The plan expects affordable homes to be built on the development site itself. Money paid instead of building on site is only accepted in exceptional circumstances. Policy HN3, page 150
The plan allocates sites for permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches and a transit site, to meet the identified need. Policy HN8, page 162

Jobs and the economy

The plan aims to provide for 8-10,000 new jobs in key sectors over the plan period, which is the years the plan covers. Policy STR7, page 73
The plan makes provision for 124.97 hectares of employment land, meaning land for business and industrial use. Policy STR1, page 43
In rural areas the plan recognises farming's continued contribution to the rural economy, and supports other rural businesses, tourism and diversification, which means branching into new kinds of business. Policy STR7, page 73
The plan seeks to make sure new tourism developments are in sustainable, accessible places and do not harm local communities. Page 85

Town centres and shops

The plan lists Buckley, Flint, Holywell, Mold and Shotton as town centres, with Connah's Quay, Queensferry and Saltney as district centres. Retail, leisure and commercial development is directed to these centres. Policy PE7, page 134
The plan protects the most important shopping streets, called Primary Shopping Areas. Within them, shops on the ground floor are the preferred use, and ground floor homes will not be supported. Policy PE8, page 135
Outside the Primary Shopping Areas but within town centre boundaries, ground floor shops, professional services, food and drink and other commercial uses that would enhance a town's vitality and viability will be supported. Policy PE9, page 136

Countryside, nature and heritage

The plan protects the open countryside and the undeveloped coastline from development, and new building outside settlement boundaries is strictly controlled to only a few specific types. Policy STR13, page 99
The plan's Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB policy says development will only be allowed where it conserves or enhances the natural beauty of this nationally important landscape and its setting. Policy EN5, page 174

Climate, energy and flooding

The plan aims to steer development away from areas at risk of flooding, and to make sure new development does not add to flood risk elsewhere. Policy STR14, page 102

Transport

The plan says new development must be supported by appropriate transport infrastructure, and must give good access to walking and cycling first, then public transport, then low emission private vehicles, and last of all private motor vehicles. Policy PC5, page 116
The plan says that in non-residential development, at least 10% of parking spaces must have electric vehicle charging points. Policy PC5, page 116

The Welsh language

The plan says new development should support and sustain the local Welsh language and cultural identity. Page 59
The plan describes Flintshire's Welsh speaking community as relatively small but strong and distinctive. Page 84
The plan says its evidence on the Welsh language and its approach to it are set out in a separate Welsh Language Background Paper. Page 59

What the plan allows for

Figures as the plan states them, with the page they're on. Read automatically from the plan and checked against the page's own words.

Figure	Plan in force
Homes needed over the plan period	6,950 homes page 34
Homes the plan provides for	7,870 homes page 34
Affordable homes the plan aims for	2,265 homes page 43
Land for jobs	125 hectares page 43

How the plan is working

From the annual monitoring report for 2024-25.

Every October each authority publishes an annual monitoring report, saying how the plan is working: for example, how many homes were built in the year against what the plan expects.

No figures have been read from the latest monitoring report yet.

The annual monitoring report (PDF)

A new plan

No replacement plan is under way.

Sites set aside for building

Sites the plan allocates for development, as it lists them. Having a site allocated means the authority expects it to be built on during the plan period; each one still needs planning permission.

12 sites

Reference	Site	Place	For	Hectares	Source
1	Chester Aerospace Park	Broughton	Jobs	5.7	page 125
2	Manor Lane/Hawarden Park Extension	Broughton	Jobs	18.2	page 125
3	Drury New Road	Buckley	Jobs	1.4	page 125
HN8-1

Council meetings about the plan

Recent council and committee meetings with an item on the development plan.

Cabinet 13 October 2026Local Development Plan – Annual Monitoring Report 3
Environment & Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee 6 October 2026Local Development Plan – Annual Monitoring Report 3
Cabinet 14 October 2025Local Development Plan (LDP) Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)
Environment & Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee 7 October 2025Local Development Plan (LDP) Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)
Cabinet 15 October 2024LDP Annual Monitoring Report
Flintshire County Council 24 January 2023Adoption of the Flintshire Local Development Plan (LDP).
Cabinet 17 January 2023Adoption of the Flintshire Local Development Plan (LDP)
Cabinet 31 May 2022Examination of the Flintshire Local Development Plan – Position Update and Matters Arising Changes Consultation

Sources

The plan's details were last checked on 2 November 2026.

Figure

Plan in force

Homes needed over the plan period

6,950 homes page 34

Homes the plan provides for

7,870 homes page 34

Affordable homes the plan aims for

2,265 homes page 43

Land for jobs

125 hectares page 43

Reference

Site

Place

For

Homes

Hectares

Source

Chester Aerospace Park

Broughton

Jobs

5.7

page 125

Manor Lane/Hawarden Park Extension

Broughton

Jobs

18.2

page 125

Drury New Road

Buckley

Jobs

1.4

page 125

HN8-1