[P]ublic hearings for two major planning documents are set to take place in Kendal next month.
Plans for the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and for the whole of South Lakeland, outside the national parks, were submitted to the secretary of state in February for examination.
Hearing sessions are part of the examination process and allow independent planning inspector, Philip Lewis, to seek clarification or additional information on any issues relating to the proposals.
Hearings for the Development Management Policies DPD for South Lakeland will take place on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 June.
The Arnside and Silverdale AONB Development Plan Document (DPD) hearings are scheduled over three days – Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 June.
Both sets of hearings will be held at Kendal Town Hall, beginning at 9.30am each day.
Members of the public are welcome to attend any of the hearing sessions to watch proceedings, but only those invited to do so by the inspector may speak.
South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has been working with Lancaster City Council on a dedicated plan that will guide any future development in the AONB and jointly submitted the proposal, which will form part of both councils’ local plans.
The Arnside and Silverdale AONB plan identifies sites for new housing and employment – to contribute to meeting local need – and sets out planning policies to ensure development reflects the AONB designation.
SLDC also submitted a Development Management Policies DPD for South Lakeland, outside the national parks.
The document will provide detailed policies to be used when assessing planning applications and help manage and shape new development across the district.
Government appointed planning inspector, Mr Lewis, will determine if the plans meet certain requirements and standards.
If the documents are found to be ‘sound’, SLDC will adopt them as part of the district’s development plan.
The programme officer for the joint examination of the DPDs is Kerry Trueman, who is independent of the council and works for the planning inspector.
Miss Trueman is assisting the planning inspector throughout the assessment process.
For all examination matters relating to the Arnside and Silverdale AONB DPD or the Development Management Policies DPD, the programme officer should be contacted by email: [email protected] or via telephone on 01539 793560.
More information on the examination of both DPDs can be found at www.southlakeland.gov.uk.
