District Council
Our place in the future - frequently asked questions
- What is Our Place all about?
- What do you want me to do?
- I have a disability and am unable to come into the office or to any of the exhibitions.
- What happens to any comments I make?
- What are the timescales, and what happens next?
- Where can I get copies of the documents?
- Why didn't I receive a copy of the document?
- How long is the consultation period?
- Can I talk to a Planning Officer?
- Can documents be translated into another language?
- When will the Core Strategy be submitted to the Secretary of State?
- When will the Core Strategy be adopted?
- How much more development will there be in the district?
- Will new greenfield building be allowed?
- Where will new housing be built?
- What is affordable housing?
- What is a Sustainability Appraisal?
- Why do you keep mentioning the need to build more houses?
- What is Our Place all about?
Since the adoption of our Local Plan in 2003, the planning system in England has fundamentally changed. In due course this plan has to be replaced with a suite of documents known as the Local Development Framework (LDF).
This consultation deals with the first LDF document, called the Core Strategy. This will set out the central vision and principles for shaping the development of the whole district over the next 20 years. It is vital that all of our planning policies are developed with full input and involvement from the community and all stakeholders.
- What do you want me to do?
We want your views on the future direction of our district and how we can get there. We would like you to read a discussion document called Our Place in the Future, in which we have tried to set out all of the most important issues facing south Wiltshire, while keeping it as straightforward and jargon-free as possible.
Accompanying this document is a questionnaire which will help us to understand exactly what you think about all of the issues and possible options. You can alternatively fill in the questionnaire online.
As a small thank you all returned questionnaires will be entered into a draw for a £100 cash prize
You may contact us by email at ourplace@salisbury.gov.uk, by post at 61 Wyndham Rd, Salisbury, SP1 3AH, or at any of the events we are holding around the district. These are listed in full on our events page
- I have a disability and am unable to come into the office or to any of the exhibitions.
You can complete the questionnaire online, or alternatively if you contact us, we will try and arrange to visit you at home.
- What happens to any comments I make?
We will review and analyse the responses and comments of all respondents and consultees, and they will inform and shape the next stage of developing the Core Strategy.
You should be aware that all responses will be publicly available.
- What are the timescales, and what happens next?
This is the initial Issues and Options consultation period, which runs until 5 October 2007. When this period is over we will carefully go through the responses of all consultees, and develop the ideas into a more concrete preferred options document. This will go through a similar period of public consultation in early 2008.
The full details of all of the Local Development Framework documents, what they will contain, and when they will be published and consulted upon, is set out in a timetable called the Local Development Scheme (LDS).
- Where can I get copies of the documents?
On this website you can view all the consultation documents, plus background papers and full references to our evidence base.
Hard copies of the Our Place documents are available to view at our offices at 61 Wyndham Rd, Salisbury, at public libraries in the district, or at any of the exhibition events detailed on our events page.
- Why didn't I receive a copy of the document?
It would have been too expensive to circulate copies of the discussion paper and the questionnaire to every household. However we are holding a number of exhibition events and meetings all around the district at which copies are available, and of course the documents are all available online.
- How long is the consultation period?
The consultation period runs for 10 weeks from 26 July to 5 October 2007.
- Can I talk to a Planning Officer?
Yes. We are holding a number of consultation exhibitions. Alternatively you may give us a ring on 01722 434372, or drop in to the offices in person at 61 Wyndham Rd, Salisbury.
- Can documents be translated into another language?
Yes. Please contact us with your requirements by email at ourplace@salisbury.gov.uk or call us on 01722 434372.
- When will the Core Strategy be submitted to the Secretary of State?
It is anticipated that the Core Strategy will be submitted to the Secretary of State in June 2008. All representations received at that stage will be considered through an independent examination conducted by a Planning Inspector. The examination is likely to occur in January 2009.
- When will the Core Strategy be adopted?
It is anticipated that the Core Strategy will be adopted in September 2009.
- How much more development will there be in the district?
The Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West Region will require us to deliver around 460 dwellings per year and around 11-13,500 new jobs, up to 2026.
- Will new greenfield building be allowed?
Due to the quantity of housing and employment land which we are required to facilitate over the coming years, and the relatively small amount of brownfield land in the district, there will inevitably be some development on “greenfield” sites.
However, we recognise that this is a very precious and sensitive resource, and so we will strive to keep this to a minimum, protecting the most sensitive countryside, and ensuring that development is as well designed and integrated as it can be.
We would of course welcome your views on how we can best plan for these developments and meet these aims.
- Where will new housing be built?
As this is a very early stage in the LDF, we are only looking at broad options, and no decisions have been made. We would welcome your views on this difficult and controversial issue.
What we can say is that most new housing will have to go to settlements which already have a good range of services and facilities (sucy as schools, shops and public transport).
Also, the draft Regional Spatial Strategy will require around half of new dwellings to be built in and around Salisbury itself.
Factors such as landscape, flooding, and conservation will of course be crucial in deciding on the location and quantity of new development.
We will be developing detailed policies on all of these issues and your input on these will be important.
- What is affordable housing?
Affordable housing is housing that is provided for rent or sale with some form of subsidy to meet the needs of people who otherwise would not be able to access decent and appropriate housing in the private market.
Affordable housing includes housing for key workers such as nurses, teachers, firemen and policemen. Please see the Housing Topic Paper for a detailed discussion.
- What is a Sustainability Appraisal?
Sustainability Appraisals are a rigorous check of our proposals to ensure that we meet our needs without compromising the needs of future generations.
The council is required to undertake sustainability appraisals of all planning documents. Those relating to the LDF will be posted on our website.
- Why do you keep mentioning the need to build more houses?
The government requires us to ensure we have enough housing to meet the needs of the district, and our research shows that there is a major need for new housing, particularly smaller and more affordable units. Please see the Housing Topic Paper for a detailed discussion.
Documents
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Contact details:
Telephone:
01722 434362
email:
ourplace@salisbury.gov.uk...
Postal address:
Forward Planning & Transportation
Planning Office
61 Wyndham Road
Salisbury
SP1
3AH
