Council seeks views on future development for the borough

Residents in South Ribble are being asked for their views on where future development should take place as a new local plan is drawn up for central Lancashire.

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The latest stage of the plan making process comes as the council seeks to protect cherished green belt land and ensure that development happens in a planned way.

The 10-week consultation, which starts on Monday 19 December, will ask people for their views on proposed sites for homes, business developments, transport networks and open spaces across South Ribble, Chorley and Preston.

Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: "We know how important it is for residents that any new development is done in a planned way that ensures the right infrastructure is in place.

"The current process by which the government calculates housing targets is flawed and means we have to build more houses than we think is right but it is important we have a local plan in place to prevent developers just cherry picking sites across our borough.

"Development is important because it gives our children and grandchildren homes to live in, in the future, spaces for business to grow and create new jobs and all that supports our local economy, but it has to be done in a sustainable way."

The current development plan comprising the Central Lancashire Core Strategy and the three Local Plans for Chorley, Preston and South Ribble needs to be replaced to meet national planning policy and guidance requirements.

The Core Strategy is now over 10 years old and the individual Local Plans are over 7 years old.

National Government policy requires all local planning authorities to have an up to date local planning policy in place. It also requires it to be reviewed every 5 years.

A statement by the government in the last week does indicate they may be looking to change how the housing numbers are set, but the council thinks it is important to get on with the plan as this is the best way for us to ensure development happens in a controlled way.

"It was refreshing to hear that the government is finally listening to us and looking again at how it calculates housing targets but it is right we continue with making a plan because there is no guarantee the government will go ahead with its proposals and to date we have no real detail of what may change," said Councillor Foster.

"I know the consultation document does contain a lot of information but it is important our local communities take time to read it and comment on the sites as this plan will be what ultimately determines where development can or can't take place and what open spaces should be protected.

"I would urge you all to please take a look at the document and share your views."

View the consultation now