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Council consults villages on Housing Development Plan
Published Tuesday 12th October 10
The Site Specific Proposals Plan will be discussed by members of Wellingborough Council’s development committee on 12 October, in order to agree it being sent out for consultation.
Following extensive consultation with parish councils, a plan which sets out possible sites for housing, including 1,210 new homes in rural areas will be discussed by members of Wellingborough Council's development committee on 12 October, in order to agree it being sent out for consultation.
The Site Specific Proposals Plan shows preferred options for delivering housing, employment and recreation areas for the borough up to the year 2031. A housing target was set as part of a document called the Core Spatial Strategy (CSS), which was adopted by the council in 2008. Although the new government has now removed 'top down' housing targets and the CSS target is being reviewed, it is currently still binding and the plan to be discussed at the development committee's meeting explains how and where the targets could be met.
Wellingborough Council has taken the opportunity to consult widely with the villages where the majority of rural development could take place - namely Earls Barton, Finedon, Irchester and Wollaston - as well as some residents' associations in the town to take into account the communities' views. Land to the south of Irchester has been excluded from the options following discussions and noting a petition from the 'Save Irchester Countryside Campaign 2010', taking account of concerns from the public and further information on village needs. The development committee will now be asked to agree to a period of further public consultation with all interested parties.
Councillor Graham Lawman, chairman of the development committee said: "The government wants local communities to take more control of their own lives, to say what they want doing in their own neighbourhoods. We have taken a real lead in the localism agenda by going out and listening to the parishes and we're keen to take a local approach to meeting housing targets, which means reflecting communities' views, needs and ideas in our plans. The meeting on 12 October will discuss why sites have been chosen, but it's important to note that this is not a final decision on sites and there are still plenty more opportunities for consultation with the public."