Neighbourhood plan public exhibitions
Residents at the last public exhibition in Broughton Astley.
The community of Broughton Astley is getting involved with a six-week period of public consultation on an important document which could shape the future of the village.
The consultation period on the draft Broughton Astley Neighbourhood Plan began on February 7 and gives residents and public bodies a chance to comment on the plan before it is submitted to Harborough District Council, and then for independent scrutiny by a Government-appointed inspector.
Following the success of a public exhibition held last month (February 26), when about 65 residents took the opportunity to talk to parish councillors, a further exhibition is now being held this Saturday, March 9.
It is taking place at the Sutton Lounge at Broughton Astley Village Hall between 9.30am and midday.
Commenting on the publication of the draft plan, parish manager Christine Lord said: “We are pleased that many local people have already taken the opportunity to get involved in the process by attending consultation events and by completing a village-wide survey.
“The parish council has pushed forward with the production of the plan which it hopes will give local people far more say in how they want to see their community grow in the next 25 years.
“We are facing a number of potential large-scale planning applications from developers and hope that people will support the plan, but ultimately the decision whether or not to adopt it will rest with the residents themselves through a formal referendum later this year.”
The draft Neighbourhood Plan can be found on the parish council’s website at www.broughton-astley.gov.uk.
Harborough District Council’s Core Strategy, published in 2011, identified Broughton Astley as a key centre, and it is expected to provide a total of at least 400 new dwellings towards the overall needs of the district by 2028. A total of 117 dwellings have already been built or given planning permission, leaving a further 283 to be allocated.
While this level of housing is regulated by law, the parish council has resolved to produce a Neighbourhood Plan to ensure the community has a greater say in where the development should take place and at the same time address the need for additional retail, employment, recreation and leisure facilities.
The parish council was awarded a Frontrunner grant of £20,000 from the Department of Communities and Local Government in February last year to support the development of its plan. The Broughton Astley Neighbourhood Plan (Draft for Pre-Submission Consultation and Publicity) is the first to be produced in Leicestershire and the only the 17th in the country to reach this stage.
The plan will be setting out a vision and a framework for the future growth of the village until 2028 and includes policies for the allocation of new housing and employment sites and for the improvement of traffic management and leisure facilities.
A limited supply of paper copies of the draft plan are also available at the village hall and at Broughton Astley Library.
Comments on the plan received by Monday, March 25, will be considered by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and any necessary amendments will be made prior to the submission of the draft.
For further information phone the parish manager and clerk to the council Christine Lord on 01455 285655 or email christine@broughton-astley.gov.uk.
Story by Alex Blackwell
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Weather for Harborough
Thursday 20 June 2013
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