Date: 24/08/2009
Local people have been invited to have their say on the potential location for 10,000 new homes that have to be built in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales to meet Government housing targets up to 2026.
The East Midlands Regional Plan requires that 10,000 new homes be built between 2006 and 2026, and even after taking into account all existing planning permissions, land for about 3,500 homes in High Peak and 2,500 in Derbyshire Dales has to be identified over this 20-year period.
Derbyshire Dales District Council has been working with High Peak Borough Council on a Core Strategy that will establish the overall vision for future development of the parts of High Peak and Derbyshire Dales that lie outside the Peak District National Park.
This Core Strategy will provide the basis for the Councils' planning decisions for the area up to the year 2026.
An 'Issues and Options' consultation took place between March and May this year when 1,158 organisations and individuals were consulted, including statutory bodies, businesses, community groups and campaigning organisations.
Now, following analysis of the initial consultation exercise, members of the public have until 1 October to have their say on the potential location for new housing in the emerging Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Joint Core Strategy.
A series of exhibitions will be staged in key locations across both districts.
Those in Derbyshire Dales will start off in Ashbourne (27 August to 4 September), then Brailsford (1 September, with a parish presentation), Matlock (7-11 September), Hulland Ward (8 September, with a parish presentation), Doveridge (17 September , with a parish presentation) and Wirksworth (18-22 September). Parish workshops will also be held in Ashbourne on 9 September and Matlock on 10 September.
Those in High Peak include displays at all major libraries, plus staffed exhibitions at Chapel-en-le-Frith on 3 September, Glossop on 4 September and Buxton on 9 September. A workshop for Parish Councils will be held on 9 September in Chinley.
Derbyshire Dales District Council's planning policy manager Mike Hase said: "An important part of the Core Strategy will be to plan the future growth of towns and villages across the area. The comments we received in the initial consultation earlier this year suggested our market towns and some of the larger villages were the most appropriate locations, but we haven't committed to any options at this stage. We simply want local people to tell us which of the options they prefer or if there are any other options they believe may be capable of achieving the level of growth we have to meet."
Adrian Fisher, Head of Regeneration at High Peak added: "Some new land may also need to be found to support the local economy, and the redevelopment of existing industrial sites will present opportunities to provide new jobs. We will also be considering the infrastructure necessary to accompany the growth planned over the next 17 years.
"At the end of the process, we have to seek Government approval for the plan and, at that stage, it will be important to show that we've considered all potential locations", he explained.
A draft plan should be available for further public comment at the end of January next year.
For a response form in Derbyshire Dales, call 01629 761100 or email planning@derbyshiredales.gov.uk. In High Peak call 0845 129 7777 or email LDF@highpeak.gov.uk. In both districts you may comment online by following the Core Strategy link at: http://highpeak-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/jointcorestrategy/growthoptions.