Local Plan consultation

One of the plans for the canal

As regular blog readers will know the Council is producing a new Local Plan which will help shape future development within Stroud District until 2031. The next stage of consultation on future planning policies has been launched - this is about putting a number of policies together to effectively make up our rule book on how we make decisions on individual planning applications in the years to come.

The consultation is primarily targeted at developers, town and parish councils and statutory consultees who provide input on planning applications such as the Environment Agency, Natural England, Gloucestershire Highways, Network Rail and other local authorities. Residents can also provide feedback should they wish. In particular, the Council would like to know if you agree with what the policies are trying to achieve or whether changes need to be made to make them better. They would also like to know if there are any new policies which should be included in the Local Plan to address planning matters which you are concerned about.

The six week consultation runs until Wednesday 8 May. You can view the Policies Consultation document and submit your comments online here: www.stroud.gov.uk/consult

The Council is not currently inviting further comments about housing or employment numbers as part of this policy consultation, nor about strategic sites or the overall approach to distribution of development. These matters have been subject to previous consultations and will be discussed by the Council over the coming months. There will be a further opportunity for public comment when the ‘Pre-Submission’ draft of the complete Local Plan is published for consultation later this year.

You can also look at paper copies of the document and pick up a response form at the following locations:
·        Town and parish council offices that open to the public: Berkeley, Cainscross, Cam, Chalford, Dursley, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Painswick, Rodborough, Stonehouse, Stroud, Upton St Leonards, Wotton-under-Edge
·        Public libraries at Berkeley, Brockworth, Dursley, Nailsworth, Minchinhampton, Miserden, Quedgeley, Stonehouse, Stroud, Wotton-under-Edge
·        Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill reception There are computers for public internet access here as well
·        The Tourist Information Centre at the Subscription Rooms, Stroud
A Sustainability Appraisal of the policies is currently being finalised and will be available to view on the consultation webpage and at the above locations shortly.

After May 2013 the Council will consider the comments received and will prepare a full Pre-Submission draft Local Plan for formal public consultation during the summer and autumn 2013.