There is still time to have your say on council’s future vision

THERE’S only one week left to have your say on Charnwood Borough Council’s vision for economic growth, healthy communities and environmental safeguards over the next 16 years.

During the last few weeks, the council has been consulting residents, businesses and other interested parties both online and offline ahead of the submission of its Local Plan for 202037.

The Local Plan guides strategic development in the borough and identifies locations for housing and employment land for the next 16 years.

The consultation concludes at 5pm on August 23 and the council is encouraging all interested parties to send in their responses before this cut-off to ensure their comments are submitted to the Secretary of State later this year. The council will collate and submit representations alongside the Local Plan. The council is keen to guide interested parties on how to make effective representations to be considered by a Government-appointed Planning Inspector.

The Charnwood Local Plan 2021-37: Identifies 154 hectares of employment land to support the creation of 8,900 jobs in the borough and lead its pandemic recovery

Allocates land for new sustainable and well-designed homes. The Government has set a target of 1,111 new homes a year to meet the borough’s needs up to 2037.

Focuses development towards intensifying and extending existing urban and suburban areas and larger villages, thereby protecting nearly 279 square kilometres of open countryside

Plans for the critical mass of development needed to secure infrastructure - including five new schools at Loughborough, Shepshed, Barrow, Anstey and Syston - as well as health services, roads and public transport networks

Will bring in an estimated £200 million in Section 106 money to pay for other improvements to facilities and amenities

Reflects the importance of the environment and conserving biodiversity, protecting heritage sites, creating open leisure spaces and supporting healthier communities

Carefully considers of the effects of climate change and how to reduce its impacts, including flooding

Makes effective use of the borough’s strategic infrastructure, including Loughborough University, the urban edge of Leicester and the International Gateway connection to the M1 motorway and East Midlands Airport

The consultation runs until 5pm, 23 August 2021. For details about how and where to find out more, go to www.charnwood.gov.uk/localplan, email localplans@charnwood.gov.uk or call the Local Plan Team on 01509 634929. Hard copies of the documents are available for viewing, by appointment, at the council offices at Southfield Road in Loughborough.

Visitors will require a pre-booked appointment. Please call 01509 634 560 to arrange a time.