Published: Monday 22nd March 2021 | 9.19am
Cannock Chase Council is seeking your views on important plans and documents that will shape the future of Cannock Chase District.
The Council is consulting from Friday 19 March until Friday 30 April 2021 on the Cannock Chase Local Plan Preferred Option and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal.
The Local Plan covers at least a fifteen year period after adoption and determines what sort of development is needed for the future, for example; homes, businesses and shops, how much development is needed and where it should go. It also sets a clear policy for protecting and improving the local environment and delivering local infrastructure.
It is a legal requirement that when we produce versions of the emerging Local Plan this is informed by a Sustainability Appraisal, so we are consulting on this alongside the Local Plan (this also incorporates a Health Impact Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment). Given that there are a number of internationally designated ecological sites within the District, we also have to produce a report which assesses any potential impacts upon these sensitive sites arising from future development, known as a Habitat Regulations Assessment.
The Council is keen to hear views on the proposed plan and policies. What issues the new plan should be dealing with and the levels of development needed.
Dean Piper, Head of Economic Prosperity said “This is a non-statutory consultation that gives the opportunity to consult on policies and proposals which will form the basis of the Draft Local Plan. Therefore there is scope for everyone to influence the next stage of the plan.
“The housing and employment needs to 2038 are set out and locations identified to accommodate development to meet these needs. Due to the urban area being heavily constrained there has been a need to consider sustainable sites within the Green Belt to accommodate development.
“The policies in our new Local Plan will eventually help us to determine individual planning applications so it is important we get this right.”
The consultation runs from Friday 19 March until Friday 30 April. You can view all documents and find more information on how to respond to the consultation on the Council’s website at: www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/planningpolicy where forms to make comments can be downloaded.
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the restrictions imposed, consultation will be conducted in such a way to comply with government guidance. Face to face consultation, events and meetings will not be possible but officers will be available via telephone or email to answer any queries and provide further details. Appointments can be booked for a telephone call back or virtual meetings through Microsoft Teams. Please refer to the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement Addendum 2020 on our website. (file no longer available)
If you have any questions, you can contact us in the following ways:
Email planningpolicy@cannockchasedc.gov.uk
Write to Planning Policy at Planning Policy, Civic Centre, Beecroft Road, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 1BG
If you do not have access to the internet or require additional help please telephone 01543 462621 and ask for Planning Policy. A Planning Officer will then be booked to contact you.