Views sought through review to shape area’s planning policy

An opportunity to give an early view that shapes the scope and direction of the area’s local plan is underway through the first phase of its review.

The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan provides strategic planning policy to guide land use and planning decisions relating to the areas of Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey over a 20-year-period.

Although last adopted in 2023, it has to be reviewed every five years and the first of three formal stages of consultation for this began on October 22.

Over six weeks, up to December 3, this Scoping Consultation is an early opportunity to get input from residents, businesses, representative bodies, developers and anyone with an interest in Central Lincolnshire on the direction of the Local Plan and how the process will be run.

Coun Richard Wright, Leader of North Kesteven District Council and chairman of the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee which draws members from the councils of North Kesteven, West Lindsey, Lincoln city and Lincolnshire County together to set the overarching strategy that ultimately informs localised planning decisions, said this review is a key opportunity to get involved and respond to changing needs and circumstances.

“It lets people influence what their communities will look like and what considerations will be applied to new development that comes forward through planning applications for years to come,” he said.

“Although it sounds very technical, a Local Plan is of significant importance in determining how an area should grow and change in the future; in this case across a roughly 800 square mile sub-region of interconnected communities.

“It sets out what the needs for housing and employment are and how these needs will be met. It also identifies how important social and environmental issues will be dealt with, how much development is needed – in line with Government requirements – and where new development should go; directing it to the most suitable and sustainable places.

“It also protects and enhances the built and natural environment and supports regeneration and economic growth.

“And it is for all of these reasons why people should engage with the process to inform it and make it the right Local Plan for their area, their circumstances and the future needs of their children and grandchildren through to 2044 and beyond."

The local plan is used to make decisions on planning applications that are submitted in the area, and to identify and allocate sites that will help meet the growth needs of Central Lincolnshire

Following the 30-month process, if successful at examination and adopted, the resultant new Local Plan would replace the current one around autumn 2029.

An up-to-date Local Plan provides certainty for communities, infrastructure providers, landowners, developers and investors. It also helps ensure that decisions about new homes, jobs, infrastructure and environmental protection continue to be guided by an up-to-date planning framework while wider governance arrangements are being reviewed.

The need to keep the Local Plan up to date and ensure a sound planning framework for Central Lincolnshire is not changed by the Government’s Rewiring of the State agenda which includes local government reorganisation.

Following this Scoping Consultation, further stages of the consultation in the plan review will concern the draft content, in autumn 2027 and the proposed new plan itself in summer 2028.

In line with Government expectations, the consultation will be primarily run on a digital platform at the Central Lincolnshire Planning Hub with downloadable versions also available at https://plans-central-lincs.hub.arcgis.com/pages/local-plan-review, with hard copies available to view at the respective district council offices in Sleaford, Lincoln and Gainsborough, to ensure access for all.

If you want to be kept notified of future stages of the plan review, complete the form available at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=kEFWcbPLCEuWiL1CUshfZWDqt_J_m5NGuttStgbFXIFURElCMDA2UTdCMzVGWURVQUQ3OFNINjRJRS4u

For further information, please contact: [email protected]