Work on the Local Plan for Calderdale is continuing and the Council has now outlined the timetable for the release of the first draft for consultation.
The government requires local councils to produce a Local Plan which identifies land to meet their requirements for new housing and economic development, over the next 15 years.
The latest estimates indicate that Calderdale will need over 17,000 new houses by 2032. The Local Plan will show sites where new development, including housing, new schools and community facilities will be allowed and the areas which will be protected.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Environment, Cllr Daniel Sutherland said:
“The Local Plan is an opportunity for us to shape the future of our borough and we want to hear the views of the people of Calderdale in this process. We live in one of the most fantastic places and we need to create new places to live and work whilst maintaining the quality of life we enjoy in this green land.”
Officers are now drafting the Local Plan, and putting together the supporting documents containing evidence and assessments. This will be published in March 2017 for consideration by Calderdale Council’s Cabinet and Full Council.
A six week public consultation on the draft plan will then take place from April to May 2017.
Comments from the consultation will be reviewed and the draft Local Plan will be revised where necessary between May and September 2017. The Local Plan will then be considered by both the Cabinet and the Council who will agree its publication.
From October 2017 members of the public will be able to make formal representations on the Local Plan, although the Council will no longer be able to make any further changes to the document in response to any comments made.
In December 2017 the Council will submit the Local Plan, together with the comments from the public, to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
Calderdale’s Local Plan will then be examined in detail by the Secretary of State. The examination could last around nine months.
Adoption of the plan by Calderdale Council, following receipt of the Inspector’s Report, is expected to be confirmed by the end of 2018.
To find out more visit the Local Plan page at www.calderdale.gov.uk