Consultation statement Consultation Statement Consultation statement Contents 1 Introduction 3 2 Evidence Gathering 6 3 Plan preparation and consultation 7 Local Plan 28 4 Habitats Regulations Assessment 77 5 Sustainabilty Appraisal 79 6 Appendix 1: Core Strategy Issues and Options leaflet 81 7 Appendix 2: Consultation Method Matrix 89 8 Appendix 3: Press Releases 91 9 Appendix 4: Press Cuttings 101 10 Appendix 5: Preferred Options: Door to Door Leaflet 122 11 Appendix 6: Local Plan Publication: Door to Door Leaflet 123 12 Appendix 7: Statement of Representations Procedure 124 13 Appendix 8: Bodies invited to make representations on Submission Local Plan 126 Consultation Statement Consultation statement 1 Introduction 1.1 This statement has been produced in support of High Peak Borough Council’s Local Plan. Preparation of the Local Plan has been undertaken in compliance with Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008. Community consultation has been carried out in accordance with and building upon the council’s Statement of Community Involvement (Adopted 2006). 1.2 As stipulated by regulation 30 (d) this statement will set out: i. those bodies and persons invited by the council to make representations ii. how these bodies and persons were invited to make representations iii. a summary of the main issues raised and iv. how these representations have been taken into account and addressed in the development plan 1.3 The Council will actively seek to involve people at an earlier stage in the plan preparation process than has traditionally occurred. This statement outlines the ways in which the council has carried out consultation in its production of the Local Plan in accordance with the adopted Statement of Community Involvement. 1.4 Extensive consultation has taken place during the production of the Local Plan and this document provides a succinct statement of these activities and details how these have shaped future development and those views raised through consultation have been carried forward in policy. 1.5 Work began on the preparation of the High Peak Local Plan following the termination of joint working arrangements with Derbyshire Dales District Council in April 2012. The two local planning authorities had until that point been working on the production of a Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Joint Core Strategy. However, at that time work to assess the latest evidence on the number of houses needed in Derbyshire Dales and High Peak in the period up to 2026, had shown that there were significant differences in the housing markets in operation across the Peak Sub-Region. Furthermore with the introduction of the Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework, the Borough Council was mindful of the tone and content of emerging guidance that referred to ‘Local Plans’ and not Local Development Frameworks or Core Strategy, and as such decided to produce a Local Plan for the area for which it is the local planning authority. 1.6 Although the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Joint Core Strategy is no longer being prepared, the consultations and other joint evidence studies undertaken as part of the process still form part of the evidence base for the High Peak Local Plan. The table below sets out the key consultations undertaken to date, in respect of the preparation of both the Joint Core Strategy and the High Peak Local Plan. 1.7 This Statement considers each of these stages in the following sections. Each section sets out who was consulted, how they were consulted, the main issues raised in representations received at each stage, and how they have been addressed by the Council in each stage of the Local Plan preparation. This Statement is supported by a comprehensive set of appendices which provide further details of each consultation exercise. A list of organisations consulted at each stage of the process is included in Appendix 1. Consultation Statement 3 Consultation statement 1 Introduction Duty to Cooperate 1.8 Whilst the East Midlands Regional Plan has now been revoked, this decision does not take away the need to address planning issues of cross authority boundary significance. To achieve this, public bodies now have a duty to cooperate on planning issues that cross administrative boundaries. Local Planning Authorities are required to work collaboratively with other bodies to ensure that strategic priorities across local boundaries are properly coordinated and clearly reflected in individual local plans. 1.9 Paragraph 156 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the strategic issues where co-operation might be appropriate. Paragraph 179 of the NPPF requires councils to work together to address strategic priorities across boundaries and development requirements which cannot be wholly met within their own areas. 1.10 In order to satisfy the duty to co-operate, High Peak Borough Council has involved neighbouring authorities, along with Derbyshire County Council, and will continue to involve neighbouring authorities and other public bodies in order to implement the High Peak Local Plan. Discussions and meetings have been held with relevant public bodies under the duty to cooperate on strategic and cross boundary issues. Detail of these can be found in the Duty to Cooperate Statement which accompanies this plan. 1.11 Under the Duty to Cooperate, an agreement has been made with Cheshire East Council for that authority to accommodate 500 dwellings out of High Peak's objectively assessed need for housing. This is due to development constraints in High Peak. Further details are provided in the Strategic Housing Development section of the Local Plan. The Borough Council will continue to work with other authorities to meet its objectively assessed needs. 4 Consultation Statement Consultation statement 1 Introduction Picture 1 Progress Chart Shaping the Future Preparation of draft document – August – October 2007 Committee approval – 24 October 2007 Public Consultation - 8 November 2007 – 25 July 2008 Joint Core Strategy: Issues and Options 26 March 2009 – 21 May 2009 Joint Core Strategy: Growth Options Workshop with Parish Counciilors – 9 September 2009 Briefing with High Peak Councillors – 16 September 2009 Public Consultation - 27 August 2009 – 1 October 2009 Joint Core Strategy: Draft Plan 3 June 2010 – 15 July 2010 Community Conversations Summer 2011 Local Plan Issues and Options September 2012 Local Plan Preferred Option February 2013 Local Plan Additional Consultation December 2013 Publication of Submission Local Plan April 2014 Consultation Statement 5 Consultation statement 2 Evidence Gathering 2.1 The statement of community involvement, adopted in May 2006, details High Peak Borough Council policy and guidance on public consultation including the councils commitment to community involvement and what can be consulted on. The consultation undertaken as part of the preparation of the Local Development Framework is in compliance with those methods identified in the statement of community involvement and more detailed explanation of these methods can be found in Appendix 1 (page 21) of the statement of community involvement. As highlighted by figure 2 consultation was sought from statutory consultees, relevant and specific agencies and most importantly the local population. 2.2 The style and scope of public consultation has been devised to be appropriate and relevant to the policy decision at issue. Appendix 2 of this statement outlines the consultation method matrix for the Local Development Framework. As this shows, the methods undertaken throughout the consultation have aimed to reach a wide audience, including those hard to reach groups who do not usually engage in the consultation process. 2.3 Large print, Braille and audio versions of all consultation materials were made available to ensure that those who have difficulty communicating in English or require information in different formats could access the consultation material. This meets the terms of the corporate equalities plan to ensure that its services are accessible to all sections of the communities. 6 Consultation Statement Consultation statement 3 Plan preparation and consultation Shaping the Future 3.1 The discussion paper was the first step in the preparation of the (now discontinued) joint Core Strategy. Its purpose was to gather views and opinions from the local population, stakeholders and interested parties about what are the key issues in the High Peak and how they might be addressed and secure input in the early stages. The results of the consultation would be used to inform the Issues and Options stage of the Core Strategy. 3.2 The paper was broken down into the following sections: - Housing Jobs and the economy Transport and access Climate change Regeneration Buildings and landscape 3.3 The emphasis was placed on making the document accessible to a wide a range of people as possible. It was written in plain English and the key issues were detailed in bullet points. The focus was placed on looking at the key topics not on the Local Development Framework process itself. There were a short series of questions on each topic and people were invited to highlight any further issues that they felt were relevant. A full list of consultees is available in the appendix. Who was consulted and how? 3.4 The main elements of the consultation are as follows: Area Forums, Buxton (14 May 2008), Glossopdale (22 May 2008) and Central Area (15 May 2008?) were held with the discussion paper presented. The forums were well attended. People were invited to make comments on key issues which were taken forward by High Peak Borough Council. Reference copies of the document and a summary leaflet was made available in council offices based at Chinley, Glossop and Buxton as well as copies deposited at Glossop, Hadfield, Gamesley, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Whaley Bridge, Buxton and New Mills libraries. Advertisements were placed in local newspapers. Information was given to town and parish councils to enable them to forward information to residents.