PUBLIC ASKED FOR VIEWS ON HOUSING GROWTH AND CHANGE
People in the, Derby, Amber Valley and South Derbyshire local authority areas have until 31 March 2010 to say how they want their local areas to grow and change over the coming years.
Amber Valley Borough, Derby City and South Derbyshire make up the Derby Housing Market Area (DHMA). The DHMA recognises that what happens in each local area has implications for neighbouring areas - for example, a new housing development in South Derbyshire could have an impact on Derby and vice versa. With this in mind, the three councils are working together to develop a consistent approach to growth and change in light of the requirement to build 36,600 new houses in the area by 2026.
The three councils are seeking people’s views on where new housing developments should go, as well as on matters such as affordable housing, environmental concerns and employment land. The responses that members of the public give will inform each council’s Core Strategy document, which will shape development up until 2026. The documents set out a number of options, which have been guided by national, regional and local planning policies and evidence, as well as by the comments received from previous consultations.
Councillor Lucy Care, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, said, “More people tend to react to plans for their area when approval for specific building work is being requested. By getting involved at this stage there is a chance to influence both what people ask to build and where they want to put it in the future. If we get these things right it will make development in the future more acceptable to more people. I therefore hope that lots of people will take this chance to have their say.”
Councillor Stephen Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Quality of Place at Amber Valley Borough Council said: - ‘It is crucial that local people take this opportunity to give us their views on the issues and options for the future development of their local area. The decisions we make in our Core Strategies will have a major influence on the quality of life for those people who live in, work in or visit our area’
Councillor Heather Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “The Regional Plan requires us to make room for high levels of house building and other development over the next twenty years or so. Through working with our neighbours and listening to local people, we will steer growth to areas where it can have most benefit whilst making sure we recognise and preserve what’s special about our area”.
The consultation runs until 31 March 2010. People can view the options at a range of locations, as follows:
Amber Valley – Libraries, council offices and online by following the link from http://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/services/environment/landandpremises/planningtownandcountry/structureplans/localdevelopmentplans/corestrategyissuesandoptionsconsultation.htm
Derby - Libraries, council offices and online by following the link from www.derby.gov.uk/planning
South Derbyshire – Local libraries, plus libraries in Burton upon Trent and Ashbourne during opening hours, Willington and Chellaston Post Offices and Council offices during normal working hours and online at www.south-derbys.gov.uk
