NORTHLEACH, GLOS., 30 December 2013 – Northleach with Eastington Town Council has begun the process of delivering a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the parish. An application has been made to Cotswold District Council (CDC) to designate the parish as the area within which the plan will operate.
The Town Council intends that the plan should be developed in the context of CDC’s emerging local plan for the district, addressing housing need, employment, local business and general infrastructure requirements, as well as heritage impact, to ensure that Northleach continues to thrive as a working town with a well-balanced community. The Council is already engaging the local community in meetings to begin the process of consultation about the future of the parish over the next 20 years.
In the New Year the Council will engage external consultants to assist in the preparation of a plan for consideration by the parish as a whole and with the drafting of appropriate planning policies. If the plan has the support of the parish, it will be subject to a check by CDC before it goes to an external examiner. It will then be the subject of a local referendum. If there is a majority vote in favour of the plan, it will be adopted as part of CDC’s Development Plan (which also includes relevant government policies) to assist in determining future planning applications in the parish.
The Town Council is being supported in the task by many local residents, the Northleach Residents Association, the Councillor for Northleach, and CDC. If you would like any further information, please contact one of the following:
– Town Clerk, Cat Crompton at clerk@northleach.gov.uk
– Chairman of the Town Council, Cllr Vicki Hewer on victoria.hewer@btinternet.com
– District Councillor, Chris Hancock on christopher.hancock@cotswold.gov.uk
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Nationally –
- 3 Neighbourhood Plans are in force
- 5 have passed examination
- About 10 are at the examination stage
- Around 600 areas have been designated
What is happening in Cotswold District? Areas working towards a Neighbourhood Plan which have already sent submissions to CDC are:
- Stow-on-the-Wold
- Fairford
- Tetbury and Tetbury Upton
- Lechlade-on-Thames
- Chipping Campden
More general information about Neighbourhood Plans
See http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/neighbourhood-planning/
Bob McNally,
Press and Media Liaison Officer,
Cotswold District Council
Tel: 01285 623120
email: press@cotswold.gov.uk
Twitter address: @BobMcNally2