Possible SNC Plan

Press Release

Date: 29 August 2017

Issue: SNCPR13705

For Immediate Release

Find us on Twitter: @SNorthantsC

South Northamptonshire to have say on Plan that will help shape the district for the next 15 years

Residents and businesses in South Northants are being urged to have their say on the future of the district during a 10-week consultation which starts Monday, 4 September.

The Local Plan Part 2 ‘Preferred Options’ will form a key policy document that developers will have to consider before submitting development proposals to South Northants Council (SNC) for planning permission.

Cllr Roger Clarke, SNC’s portfolio holder for planning and environment said: “When new development takes place, people can sometimes feel that they did not have a proper chance to comment on or influence this.

“This is one of those chances and I would urge anyone who cares about the future of South Northants to take part in the consultation.”

As the local planning authority, SNC must prepare and review at regular intervals a Local Plan which includes policies for allocating land for development, areas to be protected from development, and policies used in determining planning applications.

The district is already covered by the West Northants Joint Core Strategy (WNJCS), which is the adopted Part 1 Local Plan, and this has given developers a robust set of policies and rules around which to form their proposals for consideration by the council.

The Part 2 Local Plan will add more detail to the WNJCS and includes:

• Planning policies that set out the general criteria against which planning applications should be judged
• A hierarchy for potential development sites which groups together towns and villages according to their ability to sustain more development
• Housing policies that allow for the development of new housing to meet identified local and special needs
• A policy approach to help meet some of the significant shortfall in the delivery of housing within the Northampton Related Development Area
• Employment policies and proposals for new employment development space including appropriate sites near Towcester and Old Stratford
• Proposals that all new houses should include charging points for electric cars
• Safeguarding a route for the A361 Chipping Warden Bypass (required for the construction phases of HS2)

The Plan also seeks to make the most out of local canals and includes protection for the district’s heritage, landscapes and community green spaces.

The consultation ends on Friday, 10 November 2017, to take part visit – http://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/planningpolicy.

In addition, copies of the draft Plan will be available to view at local libraries in Brackley, Towcester, Roade, Deanshanger, and Middleton Cheney.

Comments can be submitted to the council addressed to: Planning Policy, The Forum, Moat Lane, Towcester NN12 6AD or emailed to – localplanconsult@southnorthants.gov.uk.

Planning policy officers will also be on hand to answer questions and show people how to take part in the consultation during drop-in sessions at:

• Towcester, The Forum, Moat Lane on Monday, 2 October 2017 (4pm – 8pm)
• Brackley, Library, Manor Road on Wednesday, 4 October 2017 (2pm-6pm)
• Bugbrooke Village Hall, on Wednesday, 27 September 2017 (4pm – 8pm)
• Roade Village Hall, on Tuesday, 10 October 2017 (4pm – 8pm)
• Deanshanger Community Centre, on Thursday, 12 October 2017 (4pm – 8pm)

All consultation responses will be considered and the plan revised before another public consultation on the final draft Plan.
It will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for an Examination in Public which is undertaken by an independent Planning Inspector

It is anticipated that the public examination of the Plan will take place in autumn 2018.