SDS outcomes framework template

Print this page. Example text is in quotation marks so it is not mistaken for a recommended policy.

Theme	Objective (example)	Outcome (example)	Measure	Indicator	Dataset
Growth and economy	"The strategy area adds jobs next to the places it adds homes."	Employment land is taken up in the identified broad locations.	Floorspace completed by use class and location	% of strategic employment completions inside SDS broad locations	LPA monitoring / VOA
Housing	"Everyone can access a decent, affordable home."	More of the homes completed are affordable, by tenure.	Net additional dwellings; affordable completions	% completions affordable, by tenure, by LPA	MHCLG live tables / LPA AMRs
Health and wellbeing	"New growth does not worsen access to primary care."	Population growth is matched by primary-care capacity.	GP list size per FTE; new floorspace	Change in list size per FTE in each broad location	NHS / ICB
Transport and connectivity	"Growth is served by frequent public transport."	A rising share of new homes are near a frequent service.	Homes completed within a stated walk of a frequent bus or rail service	% of new homes meeting the access standard	DfT / operator data
Education and labour market	"School places keep pace with the apportionment."	Places are planned against the SDS housing trajectory.	Reception and secondary places vs pupil yield	Surplus/deficit by year, by broad location	Local authority education
Natural capital	"Nature recovery is planned at the same scale as growth."	LNRS priorities are reflected in SDS policy and monitoring.	Hectares enhanced or created toward LNRS measures	Hectares delivered against LNRS priorities	LNRS / Natural England
Water security	"Housing numbers stay inside water-resource and quality limits."	The trajectory is consistent with water-company and EA positions.	Supply-demand balance; quality status of named water bodies	Whether the SDS trajectory fits the WRMP / DWMP	Water company / EA
Climate resilience	"The land-use pattern reduces, not raises, climate risk."	New growth avoids the highest flood and heat-risk areas unless justified.	Homes permitted in Flood Zone 3; urban heat metrics	Share of new homes outside the highest risk bands	EA / Met Office
Communities and governance	"The public can see whether the SDS is on track."	An annual monitoring report is published.	AMR published by a stated date	On-time publication; actions against failed indicators	SPA
Design and place	"Broad locations set a design expectation local plans can apply."	Local plans adopt design outcomes that implement the SDS.	Local plans adopted in general conformity, with design outcomes	Number of LPAs with adopted conforming plans	SPA / PINS

Example outcome sentences (same ten themes)

Use these if the table cells above feel too short. Rewrite the place-names and the numbers for your area.

1. Growth and economy. The strategy area's economy has the space, homes and connections it needs. Gains reach market towns and outlying communities, not only the core.
2. Housing. Homes remain affordable across generations. A school, surgery, shop and open space are within an easy walk and are open from the outset.
3. Health. People live longer, healthier lives. The healthy-life-expectancy gap across the strategy area narrows. Care stays close to home.
4. Transport. New homes are planned so public transport and walking are available when people move in, not years later.
5. Education and labour market. Young people can build a career locally. School places keep pace with the housing trajectory.
6. Natural capital. Landscapes and heritage are enhanced. Every community is connected to high-quality green and blue space.
7. Water security. The housing trajectory fits the water-company WRMP and DWMP. If it does not, the outcome has failed.
8. Climate resilience. Communities are resilient to climate change. Places are designed to last.
9. Communities and governance. People can shape decisions and see, each year, whether the SDS is on track.
10. Design and place. Growth creates lasting places that reflect local identity. Broad locations have a design code before a stated occupation threshold.

Filled rows, with measures and datasets, are on the growth-corridor worked example. Before-and-after rewrites are on how to write one outcome.

Rules of use

• No more than ten outcomes if you can help it (PM2 uses that cap for local-plan visions).
• An indicator without a dataset is a wish. Leave it blank.
• Review the table when the SDS is replaced (PM1: start within seven years) or when an indicator fails two years running.
• This table is a method example. It is not a government template.