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Babergh District Council is asking its residents for their views on shaping the future of their district.
The first draft of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), which will form part of Babergh’s Local Development Framework (LDF), has been published today. The document sets out how Babergh will work with the community to develop its planning blueprint for the 21st century.
The Government has introduced LDFs to replace Local Plans, and the intention is that the new system will simplify the local planning process and be more flexible to changing circumstances. The emerging Babergh Local Plan is scheduled for adoption in the summer of 2006, and will eventually be replaced by the LDF.
Under the new scheme the public can have a say much earlier on in the process. Greater community involvement is sought, with the general aim being to ensure that all sections of the community are given the opportunity to contribute to the planning process, including on planning applications. The SCI makes clear how communities can be a part of the production of new or revised plans, who will participate and when.
Peter Berry, Babergh’s Countryside Officer who is part of the team working on the LDF process said “The Statement of Community Involvement is an important first step in ensuring that the people of Babergh get involved in having a say on how they would like the district to look in the future ”.
The draft Statement of Community Involvement can be found on Babergh’s website in the Local Development Framework pages. Copies have been sent to over 500 local and national organisations for their views. Comments should be made by 5.00pm on Monday 12 December 2005. |