Consultation begins on Rotherham's future

The Borough-wide consultation on the Local Development Framework -  the 15 year plan which sets out where development will happen - starts on Monday and everyone is invited to make their views known.

The consultation is about not only the overall strategy, which sets out how much development and where, but also the details of potential development sites across Rotherham.

During July, August and September, the public are being urged to have a look at and comment on the proposals, which will be outlined in two documents. The 'Draft Core Strategy' - the overall plan, and the 'Sites and Policies Issues and Options'- which suggests sites for housing, employment, retail provision and other uses. 

This is the first time that the Council has actively sought comments on the options for the individual sites, and we need Rotherham people to help us make the best choices for their local areas.

The last consultation on the LDF took place in 2009 and because of the responses from the public then, and because of changes in government policy, Rotherham is proposing significant reductions to not only its housing target but also the employment land required and the amount of Green Belt it suggests would be needed to be released.

The annual housing target has been reduced by 27 per cent to 850 new homes per year. A new local target of 12,750 new homes is to be built  between 2012 and 2027. The figure previously considered was 24,482 new homes.    

The employment land target has been reduced by 30 per cent with around 230 hectares being proposed for new economic development and a further five hectares for new office floorspace.

The amount of Green Belt being suggested to be released has been reduced by 60 per cent with the authority maintaining a 'brownfield first' approach and only a phased release of Green Belt towards the end of the 15 year period, if needed.

The Council want the public's views and is advising them that they can view the documents on-line, at public buildings or at the drop-in sessions listed below. The consultation will last until Friday, September 16. 

The online consultation system can be accessed from Rotherham Borough Council's  website at www.rotherham.gov.uk/forwardplanning or comments may be made in writing to be received by 5pm on Friday, September 16, at RMBC, Forward Planning, Planning and Regeneration Service, Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road, ROTHERHAM  S60 1TD.
 
The documents are also available for inspection at the enclosed venues during office hours:
 
 Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham
 Customer Service Centre, Civic Building, Walker Place, Rotherham
 Customer Service Centre, Station Street, Swinton
 Customer Service Centre, New Street, Dinnington
 Customer Service Centre, Braithwell Road, Maltby
 All libraries in the Borough (normal opening times)
 
The following public drop-in sessions will be held throughout the Borough:

05/07/2011 Thurcroft - 2 to 6.30 pm - Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall
13/07/2011 Rawmarsh - 1.30 to 4.30 pm - High Street Centre
14/07/2011 Maltby - 2 to 6.30 pm - Full Life Church
16/07/2011 Bassingthorpe Farm - 1.30 to 5 pm - Greasbrough Town Hall
20/07/2011 Kiveton Park & Wales - 2 to 6.30 pm - Walesmoor Avenue Village Hall
21/07/2011 Dalton & Thrybergh - 1.30 to 4.30 - Dalton Parish Rooms
25/07/2011 Ravenfield - 1.30 to 4.30 - Ravenfield Parish Hall
26/07/2011 Bassingthorpe Farm - 3.00 to 7 pm - Greasbrough Town Hall
27/07/2011 Dinnington - 1.30 to 7 pm - Dinnington Resource Centre
02/08/2011 Aston, Aughton & Swallownest - 1.30 to 5.30 pm - Rosegarth Avenue Parish Hall
03/08/2011 Bramley - 2 to 6.30 pm - Bramley Parish Hall
08/08/2011  Swinton & Kilnhurst - 2 to 6.30 pm - Swinton Civic Hall
09/08/2011 Anston  3 to 6.30 pm - Anston Parish Hall
10/08/2011 Wickersley - 2 to 6.30 pm - Wickersley Community Centre
10/08/2011 Rotherham Urban Area - 3 - 7 pm - Broom Lane Methodist Church
15/08/2011 Wath - 2 to 6 pm - Montgomery Hall
22/08/2011 Brampton & West Melton - 2 to 6 pm - Cortonwood Comeback
07/09/2011 Rotherham Town Centre - 2 to 7 pm - Rotherham Arts Centre.

For any further information please ring 01709 823869 or Email forward.planning@rotherham.gov.uk. Alternatively, find further details at www.rotherham.gov.uk/forwardplanning 

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