Contents Introduction 1 Annex 1: Mansfield District Local Plan - Scoping Report Annex 2: Mansfield District Local Plan - Consultation Draft Annex 3: Mansfield District Local Plan - Preferred Options Mansfield District Local Plan 2013 to 2033 Statement of Consultation 1.0 Introduction 1.1 This statement sets out how the council has involved residents and key stakeholders in preparing the Mansfield District Local Plan 2013 to 2033 in accordance with Regulations 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. 1.2 Consultation on the preparation of the Local Plan has been undertaken in accordance with the relevant Regulations and the adopted Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) (June 2017). The SCI document sets out how the council will consult and involve the public and statutory consultees in planning matters. Full details of the current adopted SCI can be viewed here: http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=9459&p=0 Structure of statement 1.3 The statement of consultation comprises three separate annexes dealing with each stage of consultation as follows: Annex 1: Mansfield District Local Plan - Scoping Report: available for public consultation June / July 2015 Annex 2: Mansfield District Local Plan - Consultation Draft: available for public consultation between 11 January and 22 February 2016, and 3 August and 14 September 2016 Annex 3: Mansfield District Local Plan - Preferred Options: available for consultation between 2 October – 10 November 2017 1.4 Each of the annexes explains the methods used, along with who was invited to make representations and how. This is then followed by a summary of the main issues raised by those persons and finally, how those issues have been addressed in the preparation of the Local Plan. 1 Mansfield District Local Plan -2013 to 2033 Statement of Consultation Annex 1: Local Plan Scoping Report September 2018 Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 How did we consult? ....................................................................................................... 1 Who Responded? ............................................................................................................ 2 What was said and what was our response? ................................................................ 2 Appendix A: Schedule of consultees invited to comment on the Local Plan Scoping Report A1.1 Introduction A1.1.1 In early 2015 the Council consulted on the Local Plan Scoping Report. The purpose of the scoping report was to inform statutory and other organisations as well as the general public that the Council had commenced preparation of the Local Plan and to seek views on the intended scope of issues to be addressed. A2.2 How did we consult? A2.2.1 We sent notifications, either electronically or by post, which explained the purpose of the consultation event and invited representations to approximately 690 individuals / organisations registered on our database. This included the specific and general consultation bodies as set out in Appendix A1.1 Making copies of documentation available for inspection A2.3 Copies of the document and the questionnaire were made available to view at the following venues. A poster was also placed at these venues to advertise this. • Mansfield District Council - Civic Centre, Chesterfield Road South; • Clipstone Village Library - First Avenue; • Forest Town Library - Clipstone Road West; • Ladybrook Library - Ladybrook Place; • Mansfield Library - West Gate; • Mansfield Woodhouse Library - Church Street; • Rainworth Library - Warsop Lane; and • Market Warsop Library - High Street. Letters A1.4 Letters were sent either electronically or by post explaining the purpose of the consultation event to approximately 690 individuals and organisations registered on the Local Plan database. Website A1.5 A PDF copy of the document was available to view and download from the council’s website. The document was also available on the Local Plan Consultation Portal to allow people to comment online. Posters A1.6 As well as the documents and questionnaires, posters to publicise the consultation event were displayed at the Civic Centre and the libraries. A1: 1 Public notice (Chad Newspaper) A1.7 A public notice was advertised in the Mansfield Chad on Wednesday 3 July 2015. This gave detail of the consultation event and where copies of the document were available for viewing. Social Media (Facebook and Twitter) A1.8 The Planning Policy Facebook page ‘Mansfield – planning for the future’ was updated during the consultation period to notify people about the consultation and provide them with links to the report. A1.9 Tweets were also sent via the Planning Policy Twitter account (@MDC_Planning) to help raise awareness of the consultation. Who Responded? A1.10 From those notified about the consultation on the Local Plan Scoping Report a total of 27 people responded. Between them they made 68 separate comments. Of these 68 comment What was said and what was our response? A1.11 The consultation was based around a number of questions and the key issues raised under each is set out below: Question 1 – Is the proposed scope of the plan appropriate? A1.12 There was a significant amount of support for the approach the council are taking, most notably in relation to: • the overall intended layout of the plan; • the inclusion of a spatial strategy; • the use of key chapters and topics; • the inclusion of a policy on Market Warsop and the Parish; • our recognition of the benefits of Green Infrastructure (GI); • our reference within original ‘Objective 3’ to heritage and culture to enable a good quality of life; • our reference within ‘Objective 5’ to the conservation and enhancement of the built environment for the enjoyment of all; • our reference to both designated and non-designated assets within the built environment chapter; • the fact that the intended layout of the plan includes a section on the natural environment. A1.13 However, a number of comments were also raised in relation to points that were missing from the outline of the plan. One major concern that was raised was that none of the draft ten objectives refer to sustainable development. Our intention is that sustainable development is the overarching aim of the whole plan and will together with the spatial strategy A1: 2 be a key policy within the plan. It is more than any one objective and, similar to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), sustainable development is intended to be the golden thread running through the plan. A1.14 It was also suggested that we “include a hierarchy of settlements to set out the scale and distribution of new development, to promote sustainable development in accordance with the level of sustainability of settlements,” which we have done. A1.15 One respondent emphasised concerns over land stability and suggested that there should be either a policy or criterion in relation to these issues, in accordance with the NPPF. We are able to confirm that the most up to date data was used in the work we have done and a relevant criteria was added to the overarching policy on sustainable development set out in subsequent Consultation Draft Local Plan. A1.16 A number of respondents made detailed comments in relation to issues that we should consider further or look to address such as: • potential for synergy particularly with the integration of blue with green infrastructure; • more about our environment and the protection of green spaces, sports pitches and parks; • the importance of the geographical area, in terms of biodiversity and UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species and habitats, as such information should be considered when assessing sites for development; • planning policies should take a strategic approach to the conservation, enhancement and restoration of geodiversity, and promote opportunities for the incorporation of geodiversity interest as part of development; • the need to address the issues of social inclusion to reduce inequalities and community safety; • whether Mansfield District Council will meet the population growth in Objective 1 within the district; • the importance of the Water Framework Directive and River Basin Management Plans; • the importance of a reference to heritage assets on the Heritage at Risk register; and • consideration of a policy on onshore hydrocarbons gas A1.17 We were able to address these issues in the subsequent Consultation Draft Local Plan. Question 2 – Having read the Scoping Report, is there anything else we should include within the Consultation Draft? A1.18 In some cases comments overlapped with the first question, as people explained what else they felt the plan should cover. Once again there was clear support for issues identified within the Scoping report, in particular: • the emphasis on sustainable development; A1: 3 • support for the core objectives; and • the council's commitment to protecting designated sites. A1.19 The comments generally were indicative of the brief level of detail that was in the scoping report but the responses were very useful as it drew our attention to ensuring that the plan addresses a variety of issues such as: • public transport facilities community transport, taxis: • diversification of farms: • agricultural land quality: • hydro carbons; • affordable housing; and • natural environmental capital. A1.20 Climate change was also identified as an important issue especially