Calderdale’s Local Plan has now reached the final stages before adoption following confirmation from the Planning Inspector that the plan is sound.
The independent Planning Inspector, Miss Katie Child B.Sc. (Hons) MA MRTPI, was appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to examine the draft Local Plan.
The Council has received Miss Child’s final report, which concludes that, subject to the modifications set out in her report, the Calderdale Local Plan will be legally compliant.
The Local Plan identifies sites for economic growth and new homes in Calderdale up to 2033. Once approved it will be reviewed in year five.
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, said:
“We’re very pleased with the outcome of the Inspector’s examination. Once the Local Plan is formally adopted it will make sure that decisions on planning applications meet the needs of our communities whilst conserving our distinctive Calderdale landscapes over the next few years.
“The plan allows us to ensure that the right homes are built in the right places; that infrastructure is delivered to support them; that jobs are created to support our thriving towns and, as importantly, that our natural environment is protected.
“We are now very close to the end of this process, which has been extremely thorough, over a number of years, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken part and made representations to help us make sure this is the right plan for Calderdale.”
The examination has been a robust and challenging process to allow the Inspector to consider a range of issues relating to the draft Local Plan including housing, employment, transport, town centres and climate change.
In March 2022 the Council received a letter from Miss Katie Child, outlining her interim findings on the draft following a series of public hearings in January 2022, which were attended by a wide range of groups and individuals.
The findings included ‘main modifications’ recommended by the Planning Inspector, which were consulted on during the summer and early autumn of 2022.
The Inspector took account of these representations when drafting her final report, which the Council has now received.
The next step will be consideration of the draft Local Plan by the Cabinet, which will be asked to support its adoption, with the final decision being taken by the Full Council. This is likely to take place in the next eight weeks.
The Inspector’s report on the Calderdale Local Plan can be viewed on the Council’s website here: Local Plan Examination Library | Calderdale Council.
If adopted, the Local Plan will replace the Replacement Calderdale Unitary Development Plan (2006).
Calderdale’s Local Plan supports the ‘Vision2024 for Calderdale’ themes of distinctiveness, resilience and enterprise.
The year 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday. Where do we want to be by 2024? Get involved with the debate on Twitter with #VisionCdale2024 and find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision