Councillor Phil Bateman (Labour Wednesfield North) said today. “This afternoon I received this information from the SSDC. It is an important message and it is important that if you have an interest in the South Staffordshire Green Belt in Essington you read this.”
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE LOCAL PLAN REVIEW
REGULATION 19 PUBLICATION PLAN CONSULTATION
We are writing to you because you have made comments previously or asked to be kept updated about the Local Plan, and we are now beginning the final stage of public consultation before the plan is submitted to the Secretary of State.
The Publication Plan contains the final sites for housing and employment, pitches for Gypsies and Travellers, and new and updated policies which will be used to decide planning applications when it is adopted. Sites have been chosen taking on board responses to consultations over the past 4 years and drawing on a great deal of information and evidence from planning specialists, stakeholders, statutory bodies, agents, residents, and community groups.
Some sites have changed since the Preferred Options and these changes are as a result of new evidence and taking on board the comments we received from residents, statutory authorities and other organisations. This means we have chosen the sites based on robust planning evidence and to meet current national planning policy and our legal Duty to Cooperate with neighbouring authorities.
This stage of consultation is different to previous stages because it is about the legal soundness of the plan. Has the council prepared the plan positively? Is it justified and effective? Does it comply with national planning policy? Any comments you make should relate to these issues and they will be sent to the independent Planning Inspector who will be appointed to conduct a formal Examination into the plan, which will include public hearing sessions.
Our consultation runs for 6 weeks from Friday 11 November until 12 noon Friday 23 December 2022. To help you we have produced a FAQ Sheet and a Guidance Note to help explain the process for this consultation.
Comments must be made in writing and the simplest way to do this is by using our consultation system. You can make comments on a specific policy or area of the plan, and they will be uploaded straight into the system. If you have made comments previously, you can log in as we will already hold your details.
The Publication Plan and supporting evidence are available to view online at www.sstaffs.gov.uk/localplanreview and there will be hard copies of the plan to view at the Community Hub in Codsall, your local parish council office and libraries in South Staffordshire.
All comments made will be submitted with the Plan to the Secretary of State who will appoint an independent Planning Inspector to hold a Public Examination into the Local Plan review. Dates for the Examination will be set by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). The Inspector will decide whether or not the plan can be adopted or if any changes need to be made. If you make comments to this consultation, you will be notified of the Examination timetable.
If you wish to speak to someone from the Local Plans Team about the consultation, there are many ways you can do this. We have some in-person public consultation events planned (by appointment only), online Q&A sessions, virtual appointments or you can telephone on 01902 696423 to speak to us direct. See the information below about how to take part in the events.
We hope you will take the time to be involved and respond to our consultation, but if you have any queries, please contact a member of the Strategic Planning Team.
Sessions are planned for each Locality, however you can attend any session, whether you live in South Staffordshire or elsewhere.
Online Q&A Sessions: 6pm – 8pm
To join a meeting please use link below
Locality 5 – Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Locality 4 – Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Locality 3 – Thursday, 1 December 2022
Locality 2 – Tuesday, 6 December 2022
Locality 1 – Wednesday, 14 December 2022
In Person Locality Sessions: 10.30am – 7.00pm
by appointment only call 01902 696423 to make an appointment
Penkridge, Haling Dene Centre – Monday 14 November 2022
Coven Memorial Hall – Wednesday 16 November 2022
Essington Community Centre – Thursday 24 November 2022
Codsall Community Hub – Monday 28 November 2022
Wombourne Civic Centre – Wednesday 7 December 2022
Virtual Appointments (Microsoft Teams): by arrangement call 01902 696423
Telephone: 01902 696423 between 9am and 5pm Monday – Friday
Comments can also be sent to localplans@sstaffs.gov.uk or by post to South Staffordshire Council, Community Hub, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, South Staffordshire WV8 1PX.
Strategic Planning Team
South Staffordshire Council
Tel: 01902 696423
www.sstaffs.gov.uk
