Residents in Calderdale are being asked to share their opinions on the future development of the borough, through a series of consultations now taking place.
Consultations on the new Local Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will run from Friday 6 November through to Friday 18 December 2015 on the Council’s Consultation Portal at http://calderdale.objective.co.uk/portal/planning_services/(external link)Drop-in sessions will also be held across the borough, where you can find out more and have your say.
Local Plans identify the scale of growth required to meet housing and employment needs, detailing locations where new development will be allowed and also protecting areas from development. The process of agreeing Local Plans is complex and further consultation and a Public Inquiry will take place in due course. But as a first step Calderdale Council is now seeking views on various aspects of the proposed Local Plan. In addition to this, the CIL proposes making a charge on new development to help fund infrastructure, such as new schools, flood prevention, open space and community facilities required across the borough.
The government requires local councils to find enough land to meet the full needs for new housing and economic development. The latest estimates are that Calderdale needs to identify land for over 12,000 new houses through to 2032.
People are encouraged to let the Council know about their views on sites that could be developed in the future. There is also the option to comment on the schedule for CIL, and the shaping of policies for planning applications.
The new plans show possible sites for development but not all of them will be required to meet the need for 12,000 homes as well as land for new employment, and facilities such as schools and recreation land. The Council will not allocate all of these sites, but there are a lot of potential options so it is very likely that some of them will eventually be developed. This is an opportunity for the public and other interested parties to comment and put forward views to help shape the plan.
Informative drop-in session will also be held across Calderdale where people can find out more about the Local Plan, CIL and the consultations.
- · Hebden Bridge Town Hall – Monday 16 November – 4-7pm
- · Halifax Town Hall – Tuesday 17 November – 4-7pm
- · Todmorden Town Hall – Thursday 19 November – 4-7pm
- · Elland Library – Saturday 21 November – 12-3pm
- · Foundry Street Centre, Sowerby Bridge – Tuesday 24 November – 4-7pm
- · Mulberry Suite, Parsonage Lane, Brighouse- Thursday 26 November – 4-7pm
- · Threeways Centre, Ovenden – Tuesday 8 December – 4-7pm
Chair of the all party Local Plan sub committee, Cllr Jenny Lynn, said:
“This is a chance for local people to have their say about areas they think are ideal for development and help shape the emerging Local Plan, its sites and policies.
“The knowledge of people who live and work locally is really important, so I hope that as many people as possible have their say on future development in the borough.”