Key Message from Councillor Tony Fryatt,

Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning:

Across the country, there is a serious shortage of decent, affordable housing and the average cost of housing is rising all the time.  It is important that delivery of housing across this district matches the need of communities by building more homes that people want to live in, in places people want to live.  To help communities, a Local Plan needs to provide housing opportunities for younger people, families and older people as well as encouraging a range of employment opportunities alongside the delivery of infrastructure at the right time.

A Local Plan can help deliver the vision for each community across the district by setting out the level of growth which needs to be planned for and identifies where that growth should go.  This consultation is the first stage in the process and the first opportunity for members of the public, partners and interested parties to have their say.

As we move forward with the Local Plan, Suffolk Coastal will be working closely with our neighbouring authorities, Babergh, Ipswich and Mid Suffolk, to identify the most sustainable locations for future growth and development as well as balancing the need for infrastructure and economic growth.

The Issues and Options consultation document:

• ·         considers the need for further growth in the area and where it should take place 
• ·         poses questions on a variety of topics such as Community Facilities, Heritage, Tourism and Landscape 
• ·         includes a large number of sites which have been put forward to the Council as “potential land for development” including housing, employment and other uses

o   These sites have been submitted by landowners, developers and other interested stakeholders

o   At this early stage all the sites received have been published as part of this consultation, regardless of known constraints, for transparency and openness

o   Far more sites have been put forward than we actually need

o   These sites currently have no formal planning status

o   We will thoroughly assess all sites and reduce the number down as the Local Plan progresses through future rounds of public consultation.

Public consultation and engagement is an important part of the Local Plan process and throughout the consultation period a series of drop in sessions have been arranged.  These drop in sessions are open to anybody who wishes to find out more about the consultation and are being held in the following venues on the dates listed below:

The Issues and Options consultation document is presented in two parts.  Part 1 has been prepared in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council to identify the strategic cross boundary issues affecting the two local authorities.  Part 2 focus on issues specific to Suffolk Coastal.  Throughout the consultation document a series of questions have been raised and the Council welcomes comments on the questions and issues relevant to you.

The Issues and Options represent the first stage of Local Plan consultation and is the first opportunity to let the Council know your thoughts and ideas as to how the district is to be developed up to 2036.  Alongside the consultation document, the Council is also publishing:

• Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report,
• Sustainability Appraisal Site Assessments,
• Supporting evidence base documents in relation to housing and employment needs.

Copies of the consultation document, Sustainability Appraisal documents and evidence base documents are available on the Council’s website at http://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/planning/local-plans/suffolk-coastal-local-plan/local-plan-review/

Alternatively copies of the documents are available for inspection in local libraries across the district (including mobile libraries).

Should you have any comments to make on the consultation document, or any part of the supporting documents please submit your comments to be received no later than 23.45 on Monday 30^th October 2017 via:

• The Council’s new on-line consultation system which can be accessed via: http://consult.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/consult.ti
• Email to suffolkcoastallocalplan@eastsuffolk.gov.uk, or
• Letter addressed to Planning Policy & Delivery Team, East Suffolk House, Station Road, Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1RT.

If you have any queries about the consultation material or how you can engage with the Issues and Options then please feel free to contact me directly or another member of the Planning Policy & Delivery Team.

Mark Edgerley BSc(Hons) PgCert MA MRTPI
Principal Planner
Planning Policy & Delivery
Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils
Tel: 01394 444558
Mobile: 07825 696543

mark.edgerley@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils are working as a partnership and all emails received from us will use the @eastsuffolk.gov.uk email address