Page last updated at 17:47 GMT, Thursday, August 16 2012

Council publishes Local Plan

The Council has published the latest version of the borough’s Local Plan for a further eight week consultation from 17 August to 12 October 2012.
 
The Local Plan sets out the Council’s policies on how land in the borough can be used up to 2029 and will provide the basis for future planning decisions. The Council considered comments from over 1,200 people, mostly local residents, before agreeing the current version known as the ‘pre-submission’ Plan.

Some of the key points in the Plan are:

• Gaps between towns and villages have been preserved
• Sites have been identified to meet the need for new homes on three main sites and a number of smaller ones
• The Plan allows space for building new schools, sports and leisure and community facilities.

The Plan also includes an assessment of the Borough’s transport needs for the next 17 years, including a proposed Botley by-pass, although the Plan now says that developments in the Botley area are not dependent on the new road.

Comments on the ‘soundness’ of the Local Plan for example whether the proposed development sites and policies are justified, effective and consistent with national planning policy can be made and must be received by 4.30pm on Friday 12 October 2012. After this, the Plan and any objections which can’t be resolved will be presented to an independent planning inspector for examination which will be the last stage in producing the plan. This examination is likely to take place next spring.

Copies of the Pre-submission Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2011-2029 and its related appraisals and assessments are available to view, download and make representations on at www.eastleigh.gov.uk/localplan and are also available at the Council’s Civic Offices, local town and parish council offices and libraries within the borough

Any comments should be sent to the Planning Policy Team at Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh  SO50 9YN.