Lincolnshire: Further work needed on the Core Strategy

The strategic part of the Local Plan which sets out future development in Central Lincolnshire needs further work before it can be adopted.
NEWS: The Gainsborough StandardNEWS: The Gainsborough Standard
NEWS: The Gainsborough Standard

The Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee, made up of representatives from North Kesteven District Council, City of Lincoln Council, West Lindsey District Council and Lincolnshire County Council, gave the Core Strategy the green light in July.

The document aims to create jobs and homes in communities which are self sufficient and where transport and service needs are met.

The site allocations part of the Local Plan, which earmarks specific land for development, is being prepared and will be adopted in 2016.

Following public consultation, the Core Strategy was submitted to the Secretary of State in October. But inspector David Vickery has raised issues which need to be resolved.

Coun Ric Metcalfe, chair of the committee, said: “The inspector has given us a very helpful steer as to what further work we need to do to get our Core Strategy right for an examination.”

“This relates particularly to the need for our plan to have at least a five to six year supply of land actually allocated for meeting our housing targets.”

“The work required to identify that supply and to consult properly on proposed allocations will take longer than a temporary delay in submitting the plan.”

The committee will receive advice at its meeting in January on how to move forward.

“The options to be considered will be whether the additional work can be achieved within the timescales to be prescribed by the inspector or whether a more sensible way forward would be the withdrawal of the current plan and the development of a more comprehensive local plan put in place,” added Coun Metcalfe.

“Thankfully, this will not delay the adoption of the Local Plan as a whole and we will ensure that by 2016 both a long term growth strategy and the means by which that will be delivered will be in place.”