August 2015
Council advised: Plan for boost in local jobs! WELCOME to the latest edition of our Local Plan newsletter. The council has just received updated advice from its independent consultants on the potential for new jobs in the district and the housing needs of the community that will arise from new residents and an ageing population. Provisionally this advice suggests that the council should plan for approximately 9,500 jobs and 13,000 new homes from 2011 to 2031. The government has made it clear that the council must now swiftly get a Local Plan in place to address these needs. Although much work has already been done, to make sure that enough land and opportunities can be made available to meet these recommendations on jobs and houses, there are challenges ahead. Covering the period up to 2031, the new Local Plan will set out how planning applications should be decided, identify sites for development and sites which should be protected from development because of their environmental, social and/or economic value.
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Significant progress is being made on identifying land for new employment and housing. Towards the end of August an updated Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) The SHLAA shows sites that are likely to be identified in the draft Local Plan. This will be published on the council’s website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/planning.
If you would like to receive email updates on upcoming consultations, Local Plan documents and other planning policy matters, please sign up to the Planning Policy Consultation List at www.lancaster.gov.uk/planning-consultation
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Shaping a better future The preparation of a Local Plan for Lancaster District
What is the Local Plan? The Lancaster District Local Plan will help to support the economic growth and development, by identifying land for housing, employment, leisure and open space to meet the needs of a growing community from 2011 to 2031. It will set out how planning applications should be decided, identify areas for development and areas which should be protected from development because of their environmental, social and/or economic value. This is made up of five separate Development Plan Documents (DPDS): • • • • •
Development Management Policies Morecambe Area Action Plan (MAAP) Land Allocations Arnside and Silverdale AONB Plan Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation
More information on each of these documents is available on page 3. Preparing a Local Plan takes a long time because it must be based on up to date evidence, it requires a lot of stages of consultation and decisions on publishing and adopting local plans documents are made by decisions at full council.
Nominate your green spaces The council is currently assessing the Local Green Space nominations, this followed a consultation on how valuable local green sites in the district should be identified and assessed. Residents were invited to submit sites for consideration in March. Over 40 sites were submitted. The successful sites will be shown in the draft Local plan Nominated Local Green Spaces can be valuable to the community because of the wildlife they are home to, their beauty, their cultural or heritage significance, the tranquillity they provide or their recreational value.
The aim is to consult on the Local Plan’ in 2016 and then submit them for independent examination by a government inspector in early 2017. This would mean that a new Local Plan would be in place in 2017.
Shaping a better future The preparation of a Local Plan for Lancaster District
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Development Management and Morecambe Area Action Plan These documents were adopted in December 2014 and are now being used to determine planning applications in conjunction with the policies from the 2008 Core Strategy and any remaining policies of the 2004 Local Plan. Further information on both documents can be found on the planning policy web pages.
Land Allocations Feedback from the 2014 Future Housing Options Consultation, updated jobs, housing needs and other evidence will be used to develop site options which will be consulted on in October 2015. The council aims to consult on a Draft Local Plan in summer 2016.
Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Development Plan Document This is being developed jointly with South Lakeland District Council. To date, a housing needs survey, request for views on site assessment and site suggestions has taken place. Suggested sites are now being assessed. An issues and options consultation will be taking place this autumn which will seek the views of local people about the key planning matters that the Plan will address.
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Plan The Local Plan must consider all community needs, including gypsies, travellers and showpeople. Research has highlighted that the district will need to identify new traveller sites to meet future needs. Site nominations and views on how sites could be identified and assessed were requested in June. Assessed sites will be included in the Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People Development Plan Document.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDS) A series of Supplementary Planning Documents are being prepared which, once completed, will support the wider Local Plan. These include: • Employment and Skills Plan SPD • Shopfronts and Advertisements SPD • Revised Meeting Housing Needs SPD is also being progressed. A range of Planning Advisory Notes have also been developed to provide informal guidance to applicants and developers addressing issues such as open space provision, surface water drainage and residential design.