People from across the Lancaster district are being asked to have their say on where future development should take place.
A new consultation will look at the choices Lancaster City Council faces to accommodate future growth as it prepares a new Local Plan.
The Local Plan is a requirement of all local authorities, and sets out a long-term approach for needed development in the District.
Feedback from the consultation will help the council to develop a 'Spatial Strategy' to set out the overall approach to where development should be focused and how the district's towns, villages and other areas could develop in the future.
The consultation says: "If we do not identify enough land for housing, the Local Plan is unlikely to be found sound by independent examination, and the council would have less control over where development takes place.
"Previous consultations have highlighted many places where people feel development should not take place.
"However, national policy expects us to plan for a significant number of new homes, as well as jobs, services and infrastructure.
"To adopt a new Local Plan, we must plan positively for this growth.
"The key question is not whether growth should happen, but how and where it should be delivered."
The consultation will also ask for views on a Green Belt Assessment which considers whether any land within the Green Belt should be identified as grey belt.
Established more than 70 years ago, the Green Belt was designed to limit the growth of large built-up areas, and to stop large towns merging into one another.
Under the Labour government, if a council's housing targets cannot be met, some existing green belt land will be re-designated as grey belt to free up land for the construction of new homes.
The council said its Green Belt Assessment will provide a key source of evidence to inform decisions about any changes to current boundaries.
It also asks for opinions on the Council’s Coastal Change Management Area Assessment.
This considers the risks posed by rising sea levels and coastal erosion along the District’s coast and estuary and recommends where Coastal Change Management Areas (CCMAs) should be identified.
These are areas expected to be affected by physical changes to the coast, where new development is unlikely to be appropriate.
“Government policy requires the council to plan for significant growth for up to 10,000 new homes, but the big question is where should it take place?" said Councillor Sue Tyldesley, cabinet member with responsibility for planning.
Councillor Sue Tyldesley
The consultation is available online HERE until December 11.
Drop-in sessions for people to find out more are also taking place across the district.
At each drop-in session, display boards will explain the issues and options on which the council is seeking feedback.
Council officers will also be available to answer questions and help people understand the consultation material.
All of the display materials will include QR codes linking to the online consultation. Postcards and paper copies of the consultation material will also be available at each event.
The sessions will take place on the following dates and locations:
|
Tuesday November 10 |
4pm - 7pm |
Lancaster Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1PJ |
|
Thursday November 12 |
4pm - 7pm |
Morecambe Town Hall, Marine Rd, Morecambe LA4 5AF |
|
Wednesday November 18 |
2.30pm - 5.30pm |
Carnforth Civic Hall, North Road, Carnforth LA5 9LJ |
|
Thursday November 19 |
4pm - 7pm |
Ellel Village Hall, Main Road, Galgate LA2 0LQ |
|
Wednesday November 25 |
4pm - 7pm |
The Centre @ Halton, Low Rd, Lancaster LA2 6NB |
Anyone who is unable to view the consultation online or at one of the drop-in sessions can ask for a paper copy by visiting the town halls in Lancaster and Morecambe.
Representations can also be made by email to planningpolicy@lancaster.gov.uk, or by writing to Planning & Climate Change, PO Box 4, Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PJ.
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