Local Plan Consultation Begins in Cotswold District

Cotswold-District-map-504We have received the following press release from Cotswold District Council. The Local Plan 2011-2031 is an important document – it will set out local planning policies and determine which sites can be developed for housing or other uses over the 20-year period of the plan. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your say!

RELEASE DATE 13 JANUARY – A Local Plan consultation document detailing the Cotswold District’s development strategy, proposed site allocations and strategic policies is being made available for public comment from Friday 16 January to Friday 27 February 2015.

During this period, the public will be able to view the document online at www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/ForwardPlanning  and hard copies will also be available at Cotswold District Council’s Trinity Road headquarters and Moreton Area Centre office, as well as public libraries across the District. Each Town and Parish Council will also have copies and the public can contact any of them if they wish to view the document.

Cotswold District Council is also hosting two drop-in sessions for residents to view proposals and discuss them with the Forward Planning team – Wednesday 28 January at the Council HQ, Trinity Road, Cirencester and Thursday 29 January at the Council’s Moreton Area Centre in Moreton-in-Marsh.  Both sessions will run from 2 pm to 6.30 pm.

Cllr Nick Parsons, the CDC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Forward Planning, looks forward to the consultation period:

“The Local Plan will serve as a blueprint for development up until 2031 and we have been working closely with many stakeholders, including Town and Parish Councils, local communities and landowners to help define the best ways to meet demanding government guidelines across a range of issues, including: sustainable housing development; creating employment opportunities; infrastructure improvements; and safeguarding environmental assets..”

“We realise that some of the proposals will not always be popular, but we must comply with national policy to gain approval at the inspection stage. Ahead of the forthcoming public consultation, we have compiled a list of facts to help people understand the underlying issues, and this appears in the latest edition of CDC’s Cotswold News magazine which was delivered to all households in the district during the first half of December 2014 and is now also available on our website. Additionally, we have produced a leaflet which focuses specifically on proposals for the Cirencester area, and this has been distributed recently to over 12,000 homes. We very much hope that the drop-in sessions will also enable our planners to explain the rationale behind the Local Plan and to consider and discuss alternative suggestions which the public may wish to raise.”

How to comment during the consultation

The most effective and direct way to provide comments will be via the online bespoke system on the CDC website at www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/ForwardPlanning, which will be running during the consultation period.

We are aware that some people may find this difficult for a variety of reasons, including poor broadband connections, and the Council will accept input by letter (to Local Plan, Forward Planning Team, Cotswold District Council, Trinity Rd, Cirencester GL7 1 PX) or by email (to localplan@cotswold.gov.uk)   We cannot guarantee, however, that comments sent to us by letter or email will always be correctly allocated or interpreted.

Copies of the draft Plan will be available for inspection or purchase (£5 per copy) at the Council’s Trinity Road office and the Moreton Area Centre. The document will also be available to view in hard copy at local libraries.