Residents and businesses are invited to have their say on the new Chesterfield Borough Local Plan – people can submit feedback online or in writing.
The Local Plan – which is prepared by Chesterfield Borough Council – is a crucial part of the planning process and sets out how many homes and commercial properties will be built, and where. This aims to ensure that new development is sustainable and supports local economic growth without negatively impacting upon people’s health and wellbeing or the environment.
Changes to national planning policy, including updated housing targets which have been introduced since the current Local Plan was adopted, have meant that a new Local Plan is needed.
The new Local Plan will set out where development should happen over the next fifteen years and identifies how infrastructure including school places, GP surgeries, leisure facilities, roads, and green spaces can be provided to meet the needs of both of existing and new residents.
Residents and businesses can comment on the new Local Plan to highlight their key priorities and influence what will be incorporated into the draft Local Plan.
At this early stage the consultation will not include detailed policies or site allocations.
The new Local Plan consultation is open from Monday 31 March until Monday 12 May.
Two local drop-in sessions will be held where residents can speak to council planning officers about the new Local Plan.
The first is on Monday 28 April from 4pm to 7pm at the Healthy Living Centre in Staveley.
A second session will be held on Wednesday 30 April from 4pm to 7pm at the Town Hall.
As well as taking part in the consultation on the new Local Plan, stakeholders can also suggest sites for development as part of a new ‘call for sites’ process.
This will ask owners of land or premises to submit suggestions for sites with the potential for new land uses and development. Residents can also submit suggestions, but the land must be available for development.
All submitted sites will be assessed and may be incorporated into the new Local Plan.
Following the consultation all comments will be considered, and a draft Local Plan will be prepared. This will then be subjected to a second public consultation before the council submits it to the Government for independent examination.
Following this process elected members at Chesterfield Borough Council will decide whether to adopt the new Local Plan.
To find out more and share your views about the new Local Plan, visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/new-local-plan
