A DRAFT of North East Lincolnshire’s Local Plan review goes out for public consultation today (Jan 15), with residents urged to give their views on how the borough grows in the future.
The names of all residents of the borough who take part during the eight weeks between now and Friday 8 March will go into a draw to win £100 of shop local vouchers.
The North East Lincolnshire Local Plan is a blueprint for the future use of land across the borough. By law, the council must have a Local Plan, which covers the next 15-30 years, so that it can plan for change. It must then review it every five years – taking account of revisions in national planning policy and changing local priorities.
North East Lincolnshire’s existing Local Plan was adopted in 2018 and is the document that is now under review. Suggested amendments have been made and the next stage of the process is this consultation when local people are asked to look at the draft document and give their views.
These proposed draft changes to the Local Plan, if they are all taken forward and approved, will not come into effect until 2026, with the existing plan remaining in force until then. To ensure the updated Local Plan is approved by a Government inspector there are certain requirements that must be met.
The draft Local Plan review makes it clear that North East Lincolnshire Council has a long-term vision for development, with a pledge to keep a ‘pro-growth’ strategy that supports the authority’s economic vision. This seeks to ensure that development will be ‘viable and deliverable’ with a focus on design quality, climate change and the environment.
Crucially, the draft plan predicts how many new jobs will be created in the borough between 2022 and 2042, based on economic projections, and then predicts how many new homes will be required each year to accommodate the increased workforce.
Encouraging people to take part, Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport, said: “We want to encourage as many local people as possible to engage with this draft review of the Local Plan, which sets out a vision for the overall look and feel of North East Lincolnshire in the years ahead. If you live or work within this borough, then this local plan review affects you.
“The existing Local Plan was developed in 2018 in a very different world. The years since its adoption have seen many key events including the decision to exit the European market and subsequent Brexit processes, the Covid pandemic, the cost of living issues that the nation has faced, and the on-going conflict in Ukraine, which has directly impacted not only here but across the world.”
He added: “This draft Plan reflects on these events, but looks forward to the opportunities for growth that will ensure North East Lincolnshire prospers as a place where people can live, work and appreciate the natural environment around them, both now and in the future.”
Ways to take part:
- Online at https://nelincs-consult.objective.co.uk/kse/- external site
- To read an overview and more explanations go to www.nelincs.gov.uk/local-plan-review/
- Email any questions or further comments to Spatialplanning@nelincs.gov.uk or write to Equans, Municipal Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU.
- Paper copies are available to view at: North East Lincolnshire Council, Municipal Offices reception; Gingerbread House, Humberston; Scartho Community Hub; Grimsby Library; Waltham Library; Immingham Library and Cleethorpes Library.
- Paper copies of the Draft Plan are also available to print out on request from the Planning Department at Equans, Municipal Offices Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU. A charge will be made to cover the cost of printing.
- A wide range of face-to-face events on the draft review will take place over the coming weeks. You can email any questions in advance to Spatialplanning@nelincs.gov.uk
- There will also be opportunities for people to take part in drop-in sessions at the following locations:
- Immingham Library, Saturday February 3 from 10am-1pm;
- Cleethorpes Library, Wednesday January 24 from 10am-1pm;
- Grimsby Library, Thursday February 1 from 2pm-5.30pm;
- Cleethorpes Library, Tuesday February 20 from 2pm-5.30pm;
- Immingham Library, Thursday February 22 from 1pm-4pm;
- Grimsby Library, Saturday February 24 from 9am-1pm.
Article and image from NELC.
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