Designated neighbourhood area sought for Cookley and Caunsall

Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council is intending to produce a Neighbourhood Plan for the Cookley and Caunsall area of the parish.  It has applied to Wyre Forest District Council for the designation of a neighbourhood area for Cookley and Caunsall; the first stage in the Neighbourhood Plan process.

Members of the public are being asked to make their comments on the proposed neighbourhood area before Wyre Forest District Council makes a decision on the application. The consultation starts on Wednesday 27 June 2018. Comments can be emailed to planning.policy@wyreforestdc.gov.uk or sent to the Planning Policy Team, Wyre Forest District Council, Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 7WF.

A copy of the application and a map showing the proposed neighbourhood area will be available on the Council website at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning.

If the designation of the neighbourhood area is approved by the district council, then the parish council will be able to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for the proposed neighbourhood area, setting out how local residents would like the area to develop in the future.  Residents in the neighbourhood area, in collaboration with the parish council, would be able to influence where development such as housing and community facilities should go.

Neighbourhood planning is a key component of the Government's Localism Act. The Localism Act devolves greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods, giving local people new rights to shape the development of the communities in which they live by taking a more active role in the development of planning policy at a local level.

The Act makes it clear that a Neighbourhood Plan will have to generally conform to the Development Plan produced by the district council.

Councillor Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration said:

‘’Neighbourhood planning is really growing in popularity. Communities can see how they can shape where development goes, but they need to take an active role.  We would encourage residents to get involved in this first stage of the process and give us their comments on the proposed neighbourhood area for Cookley and Caunsall”.

All comments on the neighbourhood area application must be received by Wyre Forest District Council by no later than 5pm on Wednesday 8 August 2018.  Further information will be available at

www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning.

-ENDS-

For more media information from Wyre Forest District Council, please contact:

The Communications Team on 01562 732988 or email media.office@wyreforestdc.gov.uk.