Submission of New Local Plan to the Government

Blackburn with Darwen Council has submitted its new Local Plan to the Government for examination.

A planning inspector will now examine the document over the few months with hearing sessions taking place in Autumn.

Provided the inspector is satisfied with the plan, it will be presented to Full Council for adoption.

Everyone who has commented or expressed an interest in the Local Plan, whether by attending events, in writing or by telephone, will be contacted.

Hearing sessions will be held with the inspector, possibly in the Autumn; attendance is by invitation by the Inspector through the Programme Officer. The appointed Programme officer is Tony Blackburn and can be contacted at tony.blackburn@blackburn.gov.uk.

The Local Plan identifies land that has the potential to be developed over the period up to 2026 for housing, employment and other spaces.

It will also set out the policies against which planning applications for development will be assessed by the Council.

Last year the Council held a series of consultation events and over 1,000 people responded. Their views have helped shape the new plan as it has developed and a further six week consultation on the draft new local Plan was held in January 2014.  Over 200 people responded last January making in total over 400 representations.  These are now sent to the Inspector for consideration.

The Submission plan, Sustainability Appraisal, and Consultation Report will be available to view at the two town halls, Blackburn Central Library, Darwen Library, Mill Hill Library, Livesey Library, Roman Road Library and the Barlow Institute. Alternatively you can visit www.blackburn.gov.uk/newlocalplan . 

All the supporting evidence will be available on the Council’s website.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, Executive Member for Regeneration said

The new Local Plan shapes future development in the borough for the next 15 years. It sets out where development can and cannot take place and what the areas can be developed for. “