18 September 2024

Huntingdonshire District Council seeks community input for the Local Plan Engagement 2024

Huntingdonshire District Council is calling on the community to participate in the Local Plan Engagement 2024, a crucial consultation process, running from 18th September to 27th November, that will shape the future of Huntingdonshire.

The Local Plan is a strategic document that outlines the vision and policy framework for sustainable development across the district. It plays a pivotal role in addressing key issues such as climate change, housing affordability, infrastructure, flooding, and employment and identifies key areas for development, specifying the nature of that development, and establishing the policies by which planning applications are assessed.

The goal of the Local Plan is to ensure that Huntingdonshire develops sustainably, meeting the needs of the current community without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Huntingdonshire District Council is currently seeking feedback on several key documents that are essential to the plan-making process. These include:

Further Options and Issues Paper 2024: This document outlines various options for addressing a series of important issues facing the district.

• Land Availability Assessments: An assessment of sites that were submitted to the council that could be suitable for development.

• Sustainability Appraisals: An analysis of site proposals and options based on their economic, environmental, and social impact.

Feedback must be submitted through the consultation portal, Huntingdonshire District Council Consultation Home - Keystone, to be formally considered in the local plan process.

In addition to providing feedback online, there will be opportunities to view the documents and speak with the planning team in person at several local events. All events are drop-in between 2pm to 8pm:

·         Tuesday 8 October, Queens Park Hall, Daimler Avenue, Yaxley, PE7 3LX 

·         Thursday 10 October, Civic Suite Pathfinder House 

·         Tuesday 15 October, Burleigh Hill Community Centre,  Constable Road. St Ives, PE27 3ER 

·         Monday 21 October, Sawtry Womens Institute, Gidding Road, Sawtry, PE28 5TS 

·         Tuesday 22 October, Kimbolton Scout Hut, Thrapston Road, PE28 0HW 

·         Monday 28 October, Love's Farm House, 17 Kester Way, St Neots, PE19 6SL 

·         Thursday 31 October, Ramsey Community Centre, 3 Stocking Fen Road, Ramsey, PE26 1SA 

Deputy Executive Leader, Vice-Chair of the Cabinet and Executive Councillor for Planning, Cllr Tom Sanderson, said: "We urge everyone in the community to engage with this consultation process. Your input is invaluable in ensuring that the updated Local Plan reflects the collective vision for Huntingdonshire's future. The more voices we hear, the more likely we are to achieve sustainable outcomes that benefit us all."

The Local Plan update is a powerful tool for strategic planning, and the consultation process offers a unique opportunity for residents to have their say in how Huntingdonshire will be shaped in the years to come.

For more information on how to participate in the Local Plan Engagement 2024, please visit Local Plan | Let's Talk Huntingdonshire (letstalkhuntingdonshire.net) or contact local.plan@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.

Call for Sites March - June 2023

The HDC’s Call for Sites ran between March - June 2023 and was presented as an opportunity for people to send the HDC details of sites that might be suitable for allocation in the next Local Plan. As to the status of the sites submitted, the HDC web page states as follows:

“Please note that the submission of a site only means that the site will be considered and assessed as to whether it has potential to be suitable for future development. This does not guarantee that it will be allocated for development in the Local Plan, or that planning permission can be obtained for the proposed development.”