Preston Local Plan 2012-26 Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document Statement of Consultation Regulation 22 (1) (c) report July 2013 CONTENTS Section Page 1. Introduction 1 2. Issues and Options Consultation 3 3. Preferred Options Consultation 8 Appendix “Sites for Preston” Issues and Options Consultation: 15 1 Summary of Representations Appendix List of those consulted at Preferred Options Stage (May 27 2a 2012): Specific and general consultation bodies and other interested parties. Appendix List of those consulted at Preferred Options Stage (May 53 2b 2012):Members of the Public Appendix List of those consulted at Preferred Options Stage (May 69 2c 2012): Elected Representatives Preston Local Plan Publication Version July 2013 – Statement of Consultation 1. Introduction 1.1 This Publication (Proposed Submission) Consultation Statement describes how Preston City Council has undertaken community participation and stakeholder involvement to produce Preston’s Local Plan 2012-2026. It also sets out how previous stages of consultation and engagement have shaped the Local Plan. It is produced to fulfil the requirements set out in the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, which came into force on 6 April 2012, specifically the statement defined in Regulation 17 comprising “a statement setting out: a. which bodies and persons were invited to make representations under regulation 18; b. how those bodies were invited to make representations; c. a summary of the main issues raised by those representations; and d. how those main issues have been addressed in the Local Plan.” 1.2 This statement will be made available alongside the Publication Preston Local Plan (Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD). Consultation has previously been carried out under the “Sites for Preston” banner. 1.3 Following Publication an updated statement will be prepared setting out how many representations were received in relation to the Publication Local Plan, and summarising the content of these representations. After the close of the publication period, the Local Plan, together with the consultation statements, copies of all the representations received in relation to the Publication Local Plan, and all other submission documents, will be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination. 1.4 It should be borne in mind that the purpose of the Local Plan is, chiefly, to implement the development strategy contained in the Central Lancashire Core Strategy, which is the principle Development Plan Document. The site allocations and policies in the Local Plan must adhere to the principles already established in the Core Strategy, which was adopted in 2012. The Core Strategy itself was subject to ongoing community engagement during its preparation. 1.5 This Consultation Statement forms one of the “proposed submission documents” referred to in Regulation 19. It also highlights how Preston City Council has met the requirements of its Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), which was adopted in 2006. 1.6 Consultation has been carried out at a number of stages, principally at Issues and Options and Preferred Options stages. The current stage of preparation is highlighted. Consultation at Issues and Options took place in 2010, prior to the current 2012 Regulations coming into effect. 1 Preston Local Plan Publication Version July 2013 – Statement of Consultation Evidence gathering & preparation of Issues & Options Issues & Options public consultation Preparation of Preferred Options and public consultation Preparation of Publication Document Publication for formal representations Submission and Independent Examination Revision & Adoption Figure 1: Stages involved in the preparation of a Local Plan 1.7 Elected members of Preston City Council have been actively engaged in the formulation of the Local Plan. The principle forum for doing this has been the Local Development Framework Member Working Group, which meets regularly. It has no formal decision making powers but it enables officers and members to discuss issues candidly and to collectively advise the Cabinet Member with responsibility for planning. 2 Preston Local Plan Publication Version July 2013 – Statement of Consultation 2. Issues and Options Consultation 2.1 The process of evidence gathering and identifying potential sites began in 2007, with a ‘call for sites’ exercise, where we invited people to suggest places which could be used for new housing, employment, retail, community or leisure uses, as well as land that should be protected from development in some way. From these, we received 98 site suggestions for a variety of development types or protection. In addition there were a small number of sites which the Council had previously been made aware of. This made a total of 106 sites to be considered. 2.2 Between December 2010 and February 2011 we carried out community engagement on the Sites for Preston Issues and Options Discussion Paper. This was the first stage of community engagement. This paper contained all of the sites that had been suggested to the Council, plus a number of other longstanding sites which the Council was already aware of. The paper highlighted local issues, and proposed development management policies. It also contained a number of questions relevant to each chapter. However, some sites were “filtered out” of the consultation because they were: • Under 0.4 hectares in size (because it was considered that sites of this size did not generally warrant identification in the Local Plan, and could be brought forward just through the planning application process); • Already developed; or • Suggested for uses that were contrary to policies in the Core Strategy, especially Policy 1 which sets out the priority locations for new development. 2.3 The aims of the issues and options stage were to: • Stimulate early discussion with consultees (residents/businesses/community and interest groups/statutory agencies) as to the contents of the DPD; • Gauge opinion on the principle of developing those sites put forward for consideration; • Identify other potential development sites identified through various evidence base studies (such as the Employment Land Review); • Identify other potential development sites not yet brought to the Council’s attention; and • Identify local issues which the Local Plan might address, perhaps through appropriate development management policies. 2.4 Following on from the principles set out in our Statement of Community Involvement (adopted April 2006), the consultation was undertaken using various methods set out below: • The document and all supporting material were made available on the Council’s website and comments could be made on-line through the electronic representations form. • Information was placed in the Council’s community newspaper, “The Prestonian” which was distributed free to all households in Preston. 3 Preston Local Plan Publication Version July 2013 – Statement of Consultation • A press release was issued, and an interview was given on Radio Preston. • Letters were sent to all statutory consultees, agencies, developers, interested parties and members of the public who had requested to be notified. • Posters were placed in Council offices, libraries and other locations (such as parish notice boards). • Documents were made available in all libraries, leisure centres and rural post offices in Preston. • A summary leaflet advertising Area Forum1 events was distributed to all households • A number of community engagement events were held utilising programmed Area Forum meetings. These took the form of presentations followed by workshops facilitated by the Council’s Community Engagement Team, where peoples’ views on key issues were recorded. They were attended by over 400 people. Presentations were given to subsequent Area Forum meetings to provide feedback on the issues raised. • In addition, drop-in events were arranged in the city centre using the Council’s “CitizenZone” vehicle2 . • In response to specific requests, and additional workshop was arranged in conjunction with Grimsargh Parish Council and a further “drop-in” event was held in Broughton. • A training event was held in conjunction with the Preston Community Network and Planning Aid North West. Date Event Location Time 03 November Western Area Ashton Community 7.00pm 2010 Forum – workshop Science College 13 January Western Area Tanterton Christian 7.00pm 2011 Forum - feedback Fellowship 11 November Northern Area St Pius X Preparatory 7.00pm 2010 Forum – workshop School 20 January Northern Area St Pius X Preparatory 7.00pm 2011 Forum – feedback School 18 November Eastern Area Farringdon Park 7.00pm 2010 Forum – workshop Community Centre 27 January Eastern Area Greenlands Primary 7.00pm 2011 Forum – feedback School 25 November Rural Area Forum - Broughton Business and 7.00pm 2010 workshop Enterprise College 10 February Rural Area Forum - Barton Village Hall 7.00pm 1 Area Forums provided an open forum for residents to discuss local concerns and issues, and provided an opportunity to consult and receive feedback on the Council’s policies. 2 The CitizenZone vehicle is a mobile community engagement resource operated by the Council 4 Preston Local Plan Publication Version July 2013 – Statement of Consultation 2011 feedback 02 December Central Area Forum Town Hall 7.00pm 2010 – workshop 03 February Central Area Forum Gujarat Hindu Society 7.00pm 2011 - feedback Centre, South Meadow Lane 12 January