District Council agrees draft Local Plan for consultation with residents

East Lindsey District Council has agreed its draft Local Plan for consultation with local people and interested parties.

A Local Plan sets out how the area will respond to an increasing population and changes in lifestyle, as well as ensuring that housing, employment land, schools, shops and other facilities are provided for, while preserving and enhancing what is special about the District.

This is a significant document for East Lindsey and will shape how the area changes over the next 15 years.Councillor Richard Fry,
East Lindsey District Council

The proposed Local Plan sets out a housing target of 7,815. The District currently has 3,882 un-built homes with planning permission. Limited growth is provided for in the smaller villages and measures have been put in place to ensure homes are located where people can easily access services and facilities and are built and designed for all in the community, including affordable properties.

Because of coastal flood risk the Plan is not proposing to formally allocate housing in the coastal zone of the District but does strongly support economic growth, giving this area of the District its own discrete policy in the Plan. Alongside this, policies to make sure infrastructure is delivered as part of the growth have been identified, as well as policies that protect the special features of East Lindsey, including its landscape, biodiversity, heritage, and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . 

This phase of consultation – the first of two – will start on June 27, 2016, and run until August 8, 2016, at 5pm.

It’s really important the community looks at the plan, looks at the policies contained within it and feeds back any views once the consultation process commences in late June.Councillor Richard Fry,
East Lindsey District Council

The second and final phase of consultation should take place before the end of 2016 and before the Plan is sent to the Government’s Planning Inspector for examination. However, in line with legislative procedures for Local Plan development, that consultation will not be about making further amendments to the document but will enable the public to make ‘representations’ about whether they consider the plan to be ‘sound’. This will include whether it is legally compliant, plans positively to meet needs, is the most appropriate strategy and is effective and consistent with national planning policy. Any representations made during that phase of consultation will be sent to the Planning Inspector for consideration as part of the examination process, which is likely to be early 2017. The Inspector may then require alterations to the Local Plan.  

The Government has said that those Councils who fail to submit their plans by early 2017 will face national intervention which it is likely will involve financial penalties. It is important that the plan remains on track for delivery to the Planning Inspectorate so the District gets a Plan which reflects its own individual characteristics whilst still being found sound at examination.

Portfolio Holder for Planning at East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Richard Fry, said: “This is a significant document for East Lindsey and will shape how the area changes over the next 15 years. It’s really important the community looks at the plan, looks at the policies contained within it and feeds back any views once the consultation process commences in late June.” 

More information about the proposed Local Plan and supporting documents will be available from the June 27, 2016 at www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/localplan