Land Allocation Proposals approved at Full Council
19 January 2012
South Lakeland District Councillors have voted to approve its Land
Allocation proposals, leading the way to new affordable housing
across the area.
The vote took place at a meeting of the full
council on Wednesday 18 January 2012 following a lengthy debate and
representations from the public and several groups.
The vote was 24 in favour and 12 against. The
vote follows two public consultations.
The Land Allocations Development Plan Document
(DPD) allocates land for new housing including affordable homes and
employment as well as protecting green spaces and green gaps for
development. The document aims to meet the needs for housing
(affordable housing in particular) and new jobs.
Cllr Peter Thornton, portfolio holder
for Housing and Development, said: “I am extremely pleased
that this document was approved by full council. I understand that
some will see the contents as contentious and they will be able to
have a further say during the forthcoming six-week consultation
period, and I hope everyone with a say takes the opportunity to do
so.
“The proposals contained within this document
are vital for the future development of South Lakeland. We have
ensured that any new development contains 35% of affordable homes.
This is key to this proposal so that the working men and women of
South Lakeland can afford a home in the area they have grown up
in. When we first set out to plan development I insisted that
affordable housing was at the forefront of the plan. We cannot put
ourselves in a situation where young people, who are the future of
this area, cannot afford to live here. We need to ensure they have
the housing and jobs needed to sustain and grow South Lakeland’s
economy. I believe that this plan helps us achieve that.”
Leader of the Council, Brendan
Jameson, said: “The proposals include sustaining the
number of houses built to that of what has gone before. In 1961
there were 7000 less homes in Kendal and the surrounding area then
there are today. These were built on green fields and showed that
development is needed. The Land Allocation document aims to control
planning and development in a way which enhances the area rather
than distracts from it so that we have a say in the way development
is conducted in South Lakeland.”
The next stage of the document is a six-week
formal representation period that takes place between February and
March 2012. Members of the public and other interested parties will
be able to make representations on whether the documents proposals
are justified, effective and in line with strategic local and
national policies. This is called soundness and includes issues
such whether the correct procedures have been followed and whether
the proposals are deliverable.
Following the consultation period South
Lakeland District Council will submit the document to the Secretary
of State in April 2012. The Secretary of State will then appoint an
independent planning inspector to examine the Land Allocations
Document. The inspector will set the timetable for examination of
the document with this expected to take place in late June and July
2012 with a final report delivered during September 2012. If
the inspector finds the document “sound” then SLDC will formally
adopt the document, possibly in October 2012.