Published: Thursday, 18th January 2018
This year, the government is bringing in major changes to the way in which local plans are produced, including the need for councils to review their plans every five years.
As a consequence, Cannock Chase Council is proposing to begin work on a new Local Plan for the District. Councils prepare local plans to set out how land in their area will be used in the future, whether this is for housing, employment, shopping, leisure or an open space. Plans also set policies for helping to determine whether a planning application should be approved or refused.
Cannock Chase Council adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in 2014, this set the strategic context for the amount, and distribution of development across the District up until 2028. Part 2 was due to follow Part 1, setting out the finer detail as to which sites would be suitable for housing and employment and a range of other uses. The Council consulted on the first stage of this plan in 2017 and received a huge range of responses which were reported to Cabinet in August 2017.
Due to the Government’s changes to the planning system, the Council is proposing to commence the production of a new Local Plan which will incorporate the work to be carried out to date on Local Plan Parts 1 and 2.
Councillor Gordon Alcott, Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning said ‘We had an excellent response to the consultation on Local Plan Part 2 and a lot of people have asked how they can continue to play a role in shaping the District’s future. Subject to Council approval for the proposals, we will be writing to everyone who has registered on the planning policy consultation database to explain the next steps and how they can continue to participate. Anyone can register by emailing the team at planningpolicy@cannockchasedc.gov.uk and progress updates will be added to the website at www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/planningpolicy’ follow the latest news link.”
The proposals will be reported to Cabinet on 25 January 2018 and subject to approval the new timetable for the Local Plan will be adopted by Council on 21 February 2018.