Welcome to your planning policy update
 Your views on the Revised Growth Strategy
The Local Plan Update: Revised Growth Strategy consultation ran from November 2021 to January 2022, proposing an updated strategy for how development could be managed in the borough.
As well as seeking your views on potential sites for new homes, we also asked about a number of new Local Green Space designations which would be specifically protected.
A big thank you to everyone who took part, chatting to us at events and responding with your views. We received around 2,800 responses from residents, councillors, landowners and developers, local authorities and other organisations.
You can take a look at the report on the initial consultation outcomes available on our dedicated Local Plan Update webpage, to see the themes and key responses received.
The report includes an overview of:
- How people were involved in the consultation
- Who responded
- Views expressed on the proposed housing sites
- Views expressed on the proposed Local Green Space designations
- Views expressed on other topics not specifically included within the consultation (e.g. the planning system)
 What's next for the Local Plan Update?
Over the coming months we will carefully consider the views you have expressed alongside our technical studies before deciding how to proceed.
At the moment we do not have a date for when we will next be consulting. We are committed to progressing the Local Plan Update as soon as we can. We hope to confirm a revised timetable next year.
 Do you know your Local Green Space from your Green Belt?
There are many different green spaces in the borough. While we may call these green spaces different names - parks, allotments, woodlands, playing fields - there are some particular planning terms and designations that we use when preparing the local plan.
You may have heard a lot about Local Green Space recently. This is a potential designation included in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), to acknowledge and protect green spaces that are of particular importance to the local community. Local Green Spaces are not suitable for all green spaces, with areas having to meet criteria set out in national planning policy.
What other types of green space could the Local Plan Update include?
-
Public Open Space: any open space such as a park, town square, village green or thoroughfare that is publicly accessible to all
-
Countryside: land outside of towns and villages that is often used for farming or left in a natural or semi-natural state. Parts of it can be appreciated using Public Footpaths, Bridleways or Green Routes. Whilst some areas are publicly accessible, most is privately owned
-
Green Belt: a national designation which seeks to prevent the unrestricted sprawl of urban areas by keeping land permanently open
-
Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace: publicly accessible, high quality natural environments, which are located and designed to be an alternative recreation space to people who would otherwise likely visit heathlands in the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA). The SPA is home to several protected ground-nesting birds at risk from disturbance by recreational ramblers and dog-walkers
-
Sites of Urban Landscape Value: open, largely undeveloped areas within settlements, important to local character and make a positive contribution to the local environment and recreational opportunities
 Neighbourhood Planning
Neighbourhood Development Plans (often simply called Neighbourhood Plans) are optional planning policy documents produced by the parish or town council. They give local people the chance to shape how their area is developed.
We support groups that have decided to prepare neighbourhood plans across the borough, helping them to navigate the statutory process.
Since 2012, 10 areas have shown interest in preparing a neighbourhood plan and two plans have been completed in Shinfield and Arborfield and Barkham.
We're currently asking for your views on the Finchampstead and Twyford Neighbourhood Plans.
So, what can you expect to see?
The Finchampstead Plan:
- Identifies two small sites to provide a total of four new homes
- Identifies some key gaps between built up areas
- Proposes 13 areas as Local Green Space to recognise their local value to the community
- Contains a range of policies to protect local wildlife, habitats and trees, deliver high quality design and respect the character of the area and encourage active travel between places
The Twyford Plan:
- Identifies a sustainable travel network to prioritise active travel and encourage the use of public transport in the parish
- Continues to support and protect active commercial, business and service uses in the village centre and key shopping areas
- Encourages an appropriate mix and type of housing to support the needs of the local community
- Contains a range of policies on housing, climate change mitigation, conserving and enhancing local historic character and protecting local wildlife, habitats and trees
Don’t forget to take a look at these plans and send us your thoughts before 5pm on Wednesday 23 November 2022.
|
