Copeland's local plan consultation is still open

Here is an important non-election reminder:

Copeland Borough Council's consultation  on the local plan is underway and remains open until January 20th.

This is an essential step towards sorting out many of the problems in Copeland. The lack of an up-to-date and approved plan is a huge handicap to the CBC planning panel in trying to make the right decisions on planning applications for new development.

Britain's planning system is based and has on a presumption in favour of applications which meet the policies in the local plan. It is much easier for councillors and officers to resist inappropriate development if you have an agreed plan which sets out what sort of new housing and other developments the community needs and wants.

It is much harder if, as is the current situation in Copeland, your local plan is out of date.

It's not just the issues for which Copeland Borough Council is responsible which can better be addressed if there is an up-to-date plan. It will make it easier for Cumbria County council to assess the requirements for road and transport links and for school places.

The government looks at local plans too. Last month I attended a meeting where county councillors were told by a Director of the Northern Powerhouse that the most important thing we could do if we wanted to get more money to improve vital infrastructure projects in Copeland was encourage Copeland BC to get an up-to-date plan in place.

You can find details of how to respond to Copeland's local plan consultation here.

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