North East Derbyshire District Council is today publishing the independent inspector’s final report on the Council’s draft Local Plan.
The Local Plan is the development document, which sets out future strategy for housing and infrastructure growth in the District over a twenty year period. The Council’s draft Local Plan is in its final stages and has been under Examination by an independent planning inspector for the last few years.
Following changes proposed by the inspector, called Main Modifications, a final consultation on these proposals was launched earlier this year. The inspector has since been considering all the consultation replies and has now sent her final report to the Council. The inspector has concluded that the amended draft Plan is now ‘legally sound’ and capable of consideration of adoption by the Council.
Councillor Charlotte Cupit, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said, “I welcome the inspector’s final report as the next stage in the process to try to provide planning certainty and prevent speculative development in our area. I’m also pleased that the inspector has confirmed the removal of three large previously allocated Green Belt sites in Eckington and Coal Aston.
“However, given the concerns over the remaining Green Belt allocations articulated throughout the draft plan’s preparation process and again in the final consultation earlier this year, I know there will be disappointment that the inspector has not made any further changes to the remaining four Green Belt allocations in Dronfield and Killamarsh.
“We remain at a late stage in the preparation of this strategy and there is a need to assess and balance what is best for the District. We will now consider the options available to us and provide further updates over the next few weeks."
You can find the Local Plan Examination documents library here and the Inspector’s final report (.pdf | 450kb) on our website.