Residents in Denstone are invited to have their say on proposed plans for future development in their parish.
Denstone Parish Council have reviewed the Denstone Neighbourhood Plan, which was originally adopted in 2017. The draft revised Denstone Neighbourhood Plan covers the period between 2023 and 2033, setting out a vision and policies to guide development in the parish.
The revised draft also supports development at the Denstone Hall Farm complex and on the Denstone College campus. The plan includes policies to ensure that any new development would be appropriately designed. The draft plan also includes policies to protect important views, best quality agricultural land and biodiversity; seeks to preserve a historic railway route and the former Caldon canal; seeks to preserve 22 non-designated heritage assets; and proposes the designation of three Local Green Spaces.
Neighbourhood Plans are a key part of the Government’s localism agenda to give local people more of a say on issues such as where new homes, shops and offices should be built, and the design of new developments.
Denstone Parish Council have produced the draft revised document after working with the local community and have now submitted it to East Staffordshire Borough Council for final public consultation. This will start on Friday 27 October and run to 5pm on Monday 18 December 2023.
Once the consultation is completed, the document will be subject to an independent examination. If approved, the independent examiner may recommend that there be a referendum to decide whether the plan should become part of the statutory development plan, sitting alongside the East Staffordshire Local Plan, to help determine planning decisions in the Denstone parish.
Councillor Rob Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development, said: “I congratulate the Parish Council on the production of this draft plan. It is an important document which will guide the way the parish grows and develops in the future, so it is really important that the people of Denstone let us have their views on the plan and its proposals.”
Jess Turner, Chair of the Denstone Parish Council, said: “The Neighbourhood Plan sets out the community’s vision to support the economic growth and development of Denstone village whilst maintaining its unique character and community.”
The plan is available to view online, where people can also take part in the consultation by downloading and filling in the response form. Comments can be emailed to neighbourhoodplanning@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk or sent by post to Neighbourhood Planning, Planning Policy, East Staffordshire Borough Council, PO Box 8045, Burton upon Trent, DE14 9LG.
Hard copies of the draft revised Denstone Neighbourhood Plan can be found at The Tavern Pub, College Road, Ex telephone box information point, College Road and Ex telephone box information point, Stubwood Lane or obtained on request from East Staffordshire Borough Council at neighbourhoodplanning@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk or telephone 01283 508238. Supporting documents are available on the East Staffordshire Borough Council website.