Towards a Charnwood Local Development Framework: Issues and Questions
Charnwood Borough Council, May 2004.  Avalable from:

Email: localplans@charnwood.gov.uk
Web: http://www.charnwood.gov.uk
Phone: 	01509 263151

[To avoid any possible data protection issues, personal names have been removed from this copy]

Consultation roadshow 18 May 2004, Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall
The document is the first stage in producing a new Charnwood local plan.  It must be implemented by 2007 when the current one expires [guiding planning decisions until then], and it will replace the County Structure Plan.  The Framework will cover the period up to 2016.  It is a new style of process - there will be a portfolio of documents feeding in to the next planning strategy.  Nothing is decided yet - this Issues & Questions document is a precursor not tried before, and the aim is to tap into local views and opinions, ideas and suggestions, before a draft framework is produced.

PR for the events
Notice of this event appeared in the Loughborough Echo on 14th May on page 96 ['Classified Spot' - boxed under the heading Charnwood 10 years on - what will it be like?] and there was a poster on the Village Hall noticeboard, but many people had missed these, and attendance was sparse.  Of the 20 or so people present, several were from other villages [two at least from Barkby and at least two others].  Five or six members of the Woodhouse Parish Plan Group managed to attend.  

The presentation
The Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Cllr XXXXXXXX, led the presentation, and two planning staff made contributions: XXXXXX and XXXXX.  The presentation began by exploring some of the changes over the previous 10-15 years, as a means for looking forward to the next 10-15 years.  The main point was that there have been many changes, and there will be many more, so the task is to learn how to manage this.  Since 1991:

•	there have been 6000 new homes
•	an 8% rise in population
•	new jobs e.g. Astra Zeneca, Watermead Park, and ultimately Welbeck College
•	improved transport links e.g. the A6 by-pass and extension
•	new shops e.g. The Rushes
•	changed environments e.g. town centre pedestrianisation

Lesser development at such sites as Charnwood Forest, the Wolds, etc. and separate village identities have been safeguarded.

Downsides include some loss of countryside to development, although 40% is on 'brownfield' land [i.e. that has already been built on], the loss of the textile industry, loss of key employers e.g. Rolls Royce, a decline in rural services, and more cars.

The Local Development Framework [LDF] is the key to delivering the 2003 Community Strategy [also on the Charnwood website at http://www.charnwoodonline.net/community  or email consultation@charnwoodbc.gov.uk  or phone to 01509 634603].  Both documents focus on issues concerning quality of life, improved services, and collaboration between organisations.

The overall aim is to work with local communities to develop the planning strategy, to learn to manage change, and to try to ensure that any change is necessary.  There is a need to safeguard Charnwood's natural and built assets, set standards for design, and ensure sustainable communities within a prosperous borough.  A housing needs survey has recently been completed by an independent team.  This identified appropriate sites for development, both large and small.

Constraints on local plans
Constraints on what might happen are those arising from national and regional planning guidance, but locally, there are choices about how to allocate change.  For example, we can ask:

•	Are new developments in the appropriate place?
•	Do they provide better access?
•	Are buildings appropriate for the locations?
•	Is it appropriate to have more homes if transport and services are inappropriate?

The role of parish plans and village design statements
These are considered to be very important inputs.  The planners need to understand local views. 

Questions and answers session
The question and answer session raised issues as follows:

•	The 8% rise in population here differs from national stats which indicate a static population - any idea why?
•	How can the balance between 'executive' and affordable homes be balanced? [A - difficulty in defining 'affordable' but there are some limits on 'social' housing as a proportion of any new development e.g. 15% social/affordable - there is a feeling that this should be higher, up to 30%]
•	Traffic: we cannot solve this problem.  A report by John Greenwood on the future of transport was mentioned.
•	University students are currently occupying affordable homes: what can be done to release these back into the community?
•	What does 'diversification' of farming mean?

What you can do now
The Issues and Questions document has a list of questions at the end and a prepaid envelope.  The Council wants to hear as many local views on the issues and questions as possible.  They will produce a report on this round of consultation.  Views have to be submitted by 18 June 2004.

Officers of the local plans team are also willing to come along to local groups to discuss issues [phone 01509 634769 to arrange]

The Council also wants to receive comments on how [better] to engage in consultation with local people [e.g. Roundabout was mentioned as a suitable place to have advertised the roadshow this time].

Ann Irving