The North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has produced a discussion document about Issues that need to be tackled in reviewing the long term Plan for the area.
The plan for the next 20 years will focus on local needs and ambitions and the Issues Paper is designed to get people thinking about development and environmental issues and how places could change for the better.
The Joint Planning Unit will be out and about over the next 6 weeks asking people for their views about what change is needed in the area and as part of the consultation, a ‘postcards from the future’ competition has been launched inviting people of all ages to think about how their area and the way they are living could have changed by 2031. Prizes will be given for the most imaginative designs and ideas.
The Issues Paper and details of the competition are available online at www.atyourplace.org and free of charge at libraries and council offices.
Councillor Malcolm Waters, Chairman of North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Committee, said:
“The current Joint Core Strategy has provided a solid platform for investment in North Northamptonshire, but it now needs to be reviewed. The Government will be scrapping regional housing targets and giving local communities more power to decide what is right for their area. The Joint Committee is determined that the review of the Plan will address the bigger picture and give a sound framework for the councils and local neighbourhoods to produce their own plans, where they wish to.
We’re not starting with a blank piece of paper because a lot of development already has planning permission. However the review is looking over the next 20 years and there are some big choices to make about how places should develop. The decisions we make now are important because every child in primary school today is likely to be in the housing and jobs market by the end of the plan period. We need more local input to decide the best way forward.”
Over the next 6 weeks the team fromthe Joint Planning Unit will be out and about asking people for their views about how their place could change for the better between now and 2031. Planners will be on hand to talk to and the Issues Paper and a questionnaire will be available to take away. The roadshow will be at:
Kettering, Newlands Centre | Wednesday 23rd February,1.00 - 5.30 |
Corby, The Cube Lobby | Thursday 24th February, 1.00 - 5.30 |
Rushden Library | Friday 25th February, 1.30 – 6.00 |
Wellingborough, Swansgate Centre | Saturday 26th February, 10.00 - 2.00 |
Oundle, Talbot Hotel | Wednesday 2nd March, 2.00 - 6.30 |
Thrapston, Nene Centre | Thursday 3rd March, 2.00 - 6.30 |
Irthlingborough, Methodist Church | Friday 4th March, 1.00 - 5.30 |
Desborough, Indoor Bowls Club | Tuesday 8th March, 1.00 - 5.30 |
Raunds, Community Enterprise Centre | Thursday 10th March, 1.00 - 5.30 |
Higham Ferrers, Green Dragon Hotel | Friday 11th March, 1.00 - 5.30 |
Rothwell, Methodist Church | Wednesday 16th March, 1.00 - 5.30 |
Burton Latimer, Community Centre | Thursday 17th March, 1.00 - 5.30 |
Feedback will help the Joint Planning Unit put together a draft of the Plan, setting out the preferred approach, for further consultation in the summer. The replacement Plan should then be prepared by the end of the year, after which it has to go through a public examination with an independent Inspector before it can be adopted, probably in late 2012.
For further information, please visit www.atyourplace.org or call 01536 274974