The current phase of public consultation on the new South Gloucestershire Council Local Plan will close on Monday 30 April and residents and others are encouraged to have their say.
The new Local Plan is a key planning document that will shape how and where development can take place in the district. It provides a guide and framework for residents and developers alike, against which the suitability of planning applications are judged.
All Local Authorities need to have an up to date Local Plan in place. For South Gloucestershire, with our increasing need for housing and employment opportunities, for the next generations over the next 20 years, an updated Plan is being developed now.
This consultation has included a series of drop-in events, where members of the public have been able to meet with planning officers to discuss the Plan and their views. More than 280 people have attended these events and more have submitted their comments to the consultation.
Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and the Strategic Environment, Councillor Colin Hunt, said: “We want to produce a new Local Plan that works for everyone and we want to hear from everyone to make sure that we take into account their views and explain how the system works.
“I want to encourage everyone to think about this consultation and take part. This is a plan for the whole of South Gloucestershire.
“Growth will happen and through a new Local Plan we want to be able to control it and guide it so that it meets not just your needs, but also the needs of the next generations. We can continue to enjoy South Gloucestershire as a great place to live and work, if we plan positively for new homes and businesses.
“Importantly, by having a robust Local Plan, which residents understand and that they have taken part in shaping, will strengthen the council’s hand against unwanted and speculative development bids.”
The consultation is now underway and will run until 30 April 2018. Residents and other stakeholders, including Town and Parish Councils and other groups, can contribute to the process in a number of ways. Full details and supporting documents are available online at www.southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplanfeb2018.
Comments can also be submitted via email to PlanningPolicy@southglos.gov.uk, or by post to: Strategic Planning Policy & Specialist Advice Team, Department for Environment and Community Services, PO Box 1954, Bristol BS37 0DD.
A hard copy of the Local Plan consultation document is available at council One-Stop Shops and libraries for reference.
Further engagement will be undertaken later in the year as the Local Plan progresses.
To find out more, get involved and help shape the Local Plan visit: www.southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplanfeb2018
