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Goxhill consults on first stage of plan for parish

Planning and Environment
11:47, Tuesday, 12th February 2019

Goxhill is taking the first steps on the road that will see the parish adopt a new planning blueprint for the area.

Called a Neighbourhood Plan, it will set out how local people want to see the parish develop over the next 10 to 15 years. This could include allocated where new homes are built, which areas of open space are protected and enhanced, or what local facilities are needed in the future.

The Neighbourhood Plan is being led by Goxhill Parish Council.

The first part of the process is to decide on the area the Neighbourhood Plan should cover. To do so, Goxhill Parish Council has submitted an application to North Lincolnshire Council to have its whole area officially designated as a ‘Neighbourhood Area’ for the purposes of neighbourhood planning.

Before any final designation is made, local people, businesses and other bodies with an interest in Goxhill will have the chance to comment on the proposed Neighbourhood Area. The consultation will start in the coming weeks and last for six weeks.

A copy of the application will be available on the neighbourhood planning page of our website, as well as at Barton Community Hub, Brigg Community Hub and Scunthorpe Community Hub.

You will be able to make comments on the application online, or in writing either by email to spatial.planning@northlincs.gov.uk or by letter to Spatial Planning, Church Square House, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6NL.

Once all comments have been received they will be assessed and a decision made on whether or not to designate the Neighbourhood Area. Work can then begin on developing the plan.

Cllr Richard Hannigan, ward member for Goxhill and Deputy Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:

“It’s fantastic to see another North Lincolnshire community taking steps to shape how their parish develops.

“Residents know their area best, and through helping Goxhill to develop a Neighbourhood Plan, the council is enabling residents to realise their vision for the future of the parish.”

Goxhill is in the earliest stages of the plan making process. At the moment, a small team of volunteers are helping to get the Neighbourhood Planning process off the ground. The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group has not yet been officially formed but will be soon. If you would like to volunteer time to help develop the Neighbourhood Plan, please contact the Parish Council.

Neighbourhood Plans are part of the Government’s ambitions to give communities a greater say in how their areas develop and change. They are led by communities themselves not the council. In North Lincolnshire they can be led by Town or Parish Councils, where they exist, and by organisations called Neighbourhood Forums where they do not.

Once a Neighbourhood Plan has been through the various stages of community involvement and an independent examination and is finalised the council must adopt it as part of the overall development plan for North Lincolnshire. This means that it will then be used to make planning decisions.

Communities interested in Neighbourhood Planning should contact the council’s Spatial Planning team on 01724 297000 or 297573 or email spatial.planning@northlincs.gov.uk.

More information is also available the council’s website at www.northlincs.gov.uk/neighbourhood-planning.