Comments invited on the plans for a Heversham and Hincaster Neighbourhood Area

11 February 2013

Earlier this year, South Lakeland District Council received an application from Heversham Parish Council for the designation of a Neighbourhood Area covering the Heversham and Hincaster parishes. 

The application from Heversham Parish Council is supported by Hincaster Parish Meeting.  Both parishes believe that together they are appropriate for designation as a Neighbourhood Area because the parishes have been closely associated for a number of years.  This is through the church, schools, social activities and both parishes now share a Polling Station. 

Public meetings have been held in both areas to discuss the council’s Local Development Framework and this has revealed a wide range of opinions.  A Neighbourhood Plan for this area would help both parishes reach a consensus on how they are able to develop in the future up to 2025. 

Starting today, (Monday 11 February) members of the public are able to view and comment on the application submitted by Heversham Parish Council for a six week period until 12 noon on Monday 25 March.  The Neighbourhood Area application is available on the SLDC website or alternatively a hard copy can be inspected at Milnthorpe Library and at South Lakeland House in Kendal during normal opening hours. 

Councillor Jonathan Brook, portfolio holder for Housing and Development, said: “This is the first application the council has received for a Neighbourhood Area and we are keen to hear feedback from local people.  Both parishes have worked together to submit their application and it will be interesting to see how it is received by the local community who will benefit from this forward thinking partnership.”

Anyone wishing to comment can email the Development Plans team at SLDC developmentplans@southlakeland.gov.uk or can write to the Development Plans Manager, South Lakeland District Council, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4DL.   

As part of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 and in order to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan, the local community has to first notify the council of its intentions to be designated as a Neighbourhood Area.  It must state the reasons why it considers the area to be appropriate, submit a map of the proposed area and provide a statement to SLDC stating why the organisation proposing the designation is an appropriate organisation to do so.