[R]esidents in Wetheral are being urged to have their say on Wetheral Parish Council’s application to designate a Neighbourhood Plan Area.
Designation of a Neighbourhood Plan Area is the first step in the production of a Neighbourhood Development Plan, which sets out local planning policy. It can be used to develop a shared vision for the area, choose where homes, shops, workspace and other developments should be built; identify and protect important local green spaces; and influence what new buildings should look like. It should not promote less development than that identified in the Local Plan (such as new housing allocations) but it will have equal weight to the Local Plan when planning decisions are made.
Neighbourhood Development Planning is a key part of the Localism Act. It gives local communities a greater power to shape development. Neighbourhood Plans set out, at local level, vision and planning policies for an area to support the strategic policies of the Local Plan for Carlisle district.
Wetheral Parish Councillors, joined by Wetheral Parishioners have set up a Steering Group to undertake the production of a Neighbourhood Plan. The Steering group will be looking for further volunteers from the Parish to help with collecting information to ensure that the issues concerning parishioners about development in Wetheral Parish are included in Wetheral Neighbourhood Plan.
Carlisle City Council will publicise Wetheral’s application for the designation of a Neighbourhood Plan Area. During this time comments on the designation may be taken in writing from people who live, work or carry on business in the proposed area.
The consultation runs until Friday 16 March 2018 and can be found at www.carlisle.gov.uk/planning-policy/-Neighbourhood-Planning/Wetheral-Parish-Neighbourhood-Plan
Any comments on this application should be made by email to lpc@carlisle.gov.uk or in writing to: Investment and Policy Team, Carlisle City Council, Civic Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8QG.
