A report on the emerging Local Plan will be put before Cabinet next week. It summarises the main findings from the consultation on the Issues and Options, sets out a new timetable (the Local Development Scheme) for taking the plan forward and a new scheme of governance.
The report explains that the response to the Issues and Options consultation exceeded what might typically be expected. In total there were:
- -957 survey responses were received (831 people took part in the online survey and 126 people completed a paper survey)
- -602 people left 1,290 comments on interactive site maps
- -251 letters and/or emails were received
- -Approximately 90 people attended the library drop ins
- -There were 12,923 unique visits to the webpage
- -14,269 minutes watched in Live Q&As
- -1,115 Facebook comments
- -Over 15 press articles
Brett Spiller, Director at Chapman Lily Planning commended the way BCP Council publicised the Issues and options: ‘Whilst there were some obvious gaps in the content of the issues and options, the Council were creative in publicising the plan and making it accessible to a wide audience, with engaging articles in the press and an excellent, easy to use, online interface. This is needed if hard to reach groups – increasingly young persons and busy families are to be given a voice.’
General support for the suggested approach in the consultation document included:
- -Aspects of regenerating our town centres and network of vibrant communities
- -Providing specialist homes for older people and those with disabilities
- -Our future transport strategy
- -Transport infrastructure and the transport impacts from new development
- -Conserving and enhancing biodiversity
- -Protecting and improving air quality impacts on the Dorset Heathlands
- -Ensuring good placemaking and urban design
- -Preserving and enhancing our heritage, coastal and landscape character
- -Promoting health and wellbeing
- -Ensuring a high standard of amenity
- -Maximising energy efficiency and the uptake of energy from renewable sources
- -Delivering the infrastructure to support growth
- -Protecting community facilities and services
The areas which were most contentious included:
- -Parts of the vision ‘We aim for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to be the UK’s newest city region, brimming with prospects, positivity and pride’. The use of the word ‘City’ proving particularly contentious.
- -The provision of new homes
- -Sites that had been promoted to us in the Green Belt
- -Planning for urban intensification including tall buildings and identified areas of potential change
Brett added, ‘its great to see support for many of the objectives set out in the Issues and Options, such as the refocus towards health and well-being. The contentious aspects come as no surprise, but they need to be addressed in a mature manner – we’d be denying future generations of a place to live, and local companies simply won’t be able to find enough skilled employees (its already challenging enough) if we don’t build more homes. This would have a impact upon demographics, local shops and services to the detriment of existing residents. A more creative and informed narrative about the type of homes that are needed and how they can be delivered is required if we are to come up with big solutions, together with an acceptance that you can’t please all of the people all of the time!’
In terms of the updated Local Development Scheme; the suggested milestones moving forward are:
- -Autumn 2022 – Further engagement and continued evidence gathering
- -Spring/Summer 2023 – Preparation of a draft of the Local Plan
- -Autumn 2023 – Draft Local Plan published
- -Winter 2023 – Draft Local Plan submitted for examination
- -Winter 2024 – Adopt BCP Local Plan
Brett commented: Whilst slippage is always regrettable, I am actually encouraged that time has been made for ‘further engagement and continued evidence gathering’ in this instance, owing to the need to plug gaps and find big solutions to the housing crisis locally.
For more information about how to engage in the Local Plan process, please contact us.
Brett Spiller BA BTP MRTPI MCIWM
Director