(1)The local planning authority shall, within such period (if any) as the Secretary of State may direct, prepare for their area a plan to be known as a unitary development plan.
(2)A unitary development plan shall comprise two parts.
(3)Part I of a unitary development plan shall consist of a written statement formulating the authority’s general policies in respect of the development and other use of land in their area (including measures for the improvement of the physical environment and the management of traffic).
(4)Part II of a unitary development plan shall consist of—
(a)a written statement formulating in such detail as the authority think appropriate (and so as to be readily distinguishable from the other contents of the plan) their proposals for the development and other use of land in their area or for any description of development or other use of such land;
(b)a map showing those proposals on a geographical basis;
(c)a reasoned justification of the general policies in Part I of the plan and of the proposals in Part II of it; and
(d)such diagrams, illustrations or other descriptive or explanatory matter in respect of the general policies in Part I of the plan or the proposals in Part II of it as the authority think appropriate or as may be prescribed.
(5)A unitary development plan shall also contain such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Secretary of State may in any particular case direct.
(6)In formulating the general policies in Part I of a unitary development plan the authority shall have regard—
(a)to any strategic guidance given by the Secretary of State to assist them in the preparation of the plan;
(b)to current national and regional policies;
(c)to the resources likely to be available; and
(d)to such other matters as the Secretary of State may direct the authority to take into account.
(7)The proposals in Part II of a unitary development plan shall be in general conformity with Part I.
(8)Part II of a unitary development plan may designate any part of the authority’s area as an action area, that is to say, an area which they have selected for the commencement during a prescribed period of comprehensive treatment by development, redevelopment or improvement (or partly by one and partly by another method) and if an area is so designated that Part of the plan shall contain a description of the treatment proposed by the authority.
(9)In preparing a unitary development plan the authority shall take into account the provisions of any scheme under paragraph 3 of Schedule 32 to the [1980 c. 65.] Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 relating to land in their area which has been designated under that Schedule as an enterprise zone.