Local Plan Review

The Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan consultation is now closed, and we are currently reviewing and processing representations received. Representations require processing before they are published, therefore your representation might not yet be visible on the portal. All responses must have been received before the consultation closed at 11:59pm on Thursday 25th April 2024.

The Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan and supporting Habitats Regulations Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal were consulted on between Thursday 29th February and Thursday 25th April 2024.

You can still view the documents via the consultation portal linked below -
Consultation Portal

Click here to view the Interactive Local Plan Policies Maps

Additional Information

• Regulation 18 - Draft Local Plan (Downloadable PDF)
• Summary of Proposed Changes document 
• Easy Read Guide to the Draft Local Plan 

Biodiversity Opportunity Areas and Green Infrastructure Areas

• Interactive Policies Map
• Appendix 1 - Principles for Development within Biodiversity Opportunity Areas
• Appendix 2 - Principles for Development within Green Infrastructure Areas 

Online Public Engagement Events

The Council hosted two online engagement events where Officers presented information on the Draft Local Plan. 
The events were broadcast live on the Council’s website. You can now watch the recording of the events:

• Event 1 - Introduction to the Local Plan and the consultation, Housing and employment, Infrastructure and viability. 
• Event 2 - Climate Change, Environment, and Design

We carried out a Call for Sites seeking information on potential sites that can deliver any provision for Gypsy, Traveller, and Travelling Showpeople Communities. Including 

•    New sites;
•    Extensions to existing sites; and
•    New pitches on existing sites.

As part of our duty to identify enough housing land for everyone in the district we asked individuals, landowners, and developers to suggest local sites which may be available and suitable for pitches.

Submissions of potential sites were made between 29th February and 25th April 2024. 

All sites submitted to us will be carefully assessed and considered at the next stage of the Local Plan review. This will include an appraisal of any sites that meet the minimum criteria and will identify whether or not any of the sites should be considered as a site allocation in the Local Plan.

The first stage of public consultation on the new Local Plan

From Monday 12th October 2020 to Monday 23rd November 2020 the Council held an Issues and Options consultation to inform the review of the Local Plan. This was the first opportunity for the local community to become involved in the preparation of the Local Plan review.

The Issues and Options was a statement of intention as to what planning policies may need to be reviewed or updated. The consultation asked a series of questions to help the Council determine the scope and content of the Local Plan review. The Issues and Options document can be found below

Issues and Options Document

Sustainability Appraisal Report

Outcomes of the Issues and Options consultation

The Issues and Options consultation proved to be successful in generating interest and gathering views to underpin the next steps of the review of the Local Plan. As a result of the consultation over 1600 responses were received from 124 respondents.

Consultation Statement

Appendix 1 - Full Representations

Appendix 2 - Representations and Officer Responses

This stage in the Local Plan process is to identify what land is available for potential development within the district.

Submissions of potential sites were made between October 2020 and September 2022.

The Council is not accepting any further sites at present.