Launch of Planning ‘Issues Paper’ Consultation
Warwick District Council has launched a consultation paper asking local people what they think the issues are for growth and development in the district, now and into the future.
There is currently a national debate about providing more homes for a growing population over the next few years. Everywhere in the country, including Warwick District, is expected to play a part in helping to meet this expected need.
To help prepare for this, and to consider what sort of district the people who live and work here want in the future, the Council has begun work on a new plan; the “Core Strategy”. The role of the Core Strategy will be to:-
- Decide where new development should go between now and 2026 (to coincide with the new plan for the West Midlands Region);
- Help identify how to protect the district’s key assets–such our historic heritage;
- Identify how the needs within the district, such as for affordable housing can be met;
- Address the key planning issues of concern to local people.
What are the issues?
The Issues Paper is the first stage in the process of producing a Core Strategy for the district which will form part of the Local Development Framework. The framework is a portfolio of documents which will eventually replace the Warwick Local Plan, which was adopted in September this year.
The Issues Paper has been produced with the assistance of a wide range of key stakeholders who the council has met with over the last few months, providing insight into the particular issues which are important to them.
We are now seeking the views of other people, asking for any other issues to be identified that they may not have considered.
A questionnaire accompanies the paper which the Council hopes will be completed and returned, as the views received will help to shape the next stage of the process.
Councillor John Hammon, Development Portfolio Holder said, “The Core Strategy is an important new document which will shape the district until 2026. The government requires local planning authorities to prepare a Core Strategy as part of the Local Development Framework and part of that process involves various stages during which local people can become involved. This first stage, the Issues Paper, is therefore very important in shaping later stages and I would encourage everyone to take this opportunity of having a say in the future of the district.”
This next stage will be the production of an Options Paper in the spring of 2008, which will again be subject to a period of public consultation. This document will identify possible areas for future growth and development.
To find out more, you can:
- Read the Issues Paper and complete the online questionnaire at www.warwickdc.gov.uk/corestrategy
- Email the Planning Policy Team at ldf@warwickdc.gov.uk
- Visit your local library where copies of the Issues Paper and questionnaire are available.
- Phone the Planning Policy Team on 01925 456505 to request a copy of the Issues Paper, or if you have any questions.
The consultation runs until 18 January 2008.
|