CHANGES to Rugby’s housing blueprint will go out for public consultation for an extended period.
The consultation on changes to Rugby Borough Council’s (RBC) Local Plan is likely to take place over the summer, and will be for eight weeks instead of the statutory six to allow additional time during the holiday period.
It will seek the views of residents, businesses, developers, parish councils and any other interested parties on changes that were proposed during the public examination of the plan, held earlier this year.
In May, independent government planning inspector Mike Hayden said plans for the 1,500-home Lodge Farm Village near Grandborough and developments at Brinklow and Coton House should be removed from the Local Plan.
He said the changes were needed to make the Local Plan – which earmarks land for future housing and employment with accompanying infrastructure – legally compliant and sound.
Rugby Borough Council leader Coun Michael Stokes said: “Officers are working with the Inspector to agree the detailed modifications necessary.
“The vast majority of Local Plans submitted to the Secretary of State experience a similar level of modification through the examination process – our plan is not unusual in this regard. The vast majority of the Plan and the Development Strategy for the Borough remain as agreed by the Council.
“Cabinet are minded to accept the modifications proposed by the Inspector as outlined in his letter, and to progress our corporate objective of adopting an up to date plan as soon as possible.
“Because the Inspector’s modifications and the other modifications proposed during the examination must be subject to public consultation, it is currently anticipated that Council could be recommended to adopt the plan in its modified state by December 2018.”
Coun Stokes has asked council officers to arrange a special meeting of the council’s Cabinet, which will deal with the democratic and constitutional process to allow the consultation to take place. It is anticipated this meeting will take place in early August.
Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/localplan for more information on the local plan.
