Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning, states that it is essential that the Core Strategy, the key document of the Local Development Framework (LDF), is based on thorough evidence.
The Evidence Base consists of:
National Planning Policy Guidance and Planning Policy Statements;
National Circulars and Good Practice Guidance;
Regional Guidance and Indicators;
County-wide Strategies and Assessments;
District Wide Documents;
Parish Plans; and
Other Documents.
There is also a 
Glossary of Terms [48kb] (pdf document).
Together these provide a framework giving robust, up-to-date evidence of the social, economic and environmental characteristics of the District, thus informing the development of appropriate objectives and policies in the LDF.
