Have your say on the local plan

Rossendale Council has published its draft local plan which guides how the borough will achieve its targets for housing, employment sites and facilities over the next few years.

Residents and businesses are invited to have their say on the plan which will guide development for the next 15 years.

As well as earmarking sites for development, the plan will also propose sites for environmental protection.

New conservation areas and extensions to existing conservation areas are also being suggested.

You can see the plan and also comment here. The Planning Team is also holding drop-in sessions across the borough. Venues, dates and times are here.

Councillor Alyson Barnes, Leader of the Council, said:

“The Local Plan is a very important document as it allows us to determine the best way for the borough to develop given we have to meet Government targets as well as meet our future infrastructure needs.

“Without a local plan, we are not protected against speculative development and we have no influence on how our borough grows.

“The draft Local Plan seeks to acknowledge the importance of the borough’s rural character while meeting the challenge of bringing forward new development in a valley. We have previously lobbied for changes to our housing target which was too high. We are now seeking people’s views again and would urge everyone to have their say on the plan and help shape it.”