Published Tuesday 26 January 2021 at 9:06
A video has been created to help bring to life the vision for how thousands of new homes and jobs could be created in Blackburn and Darwen over the next decade.
The borough’s draft Local Plan is currently open for public feedback. The ambitious plans propose the creation of around 7,000 new homes and 5,000 net new jobs by 2037 in key development areas.
The video helps to explain what is in the Plan. You can watch the video here: www.blackburn.gov.uk/localplan
The closing date for the consultation is scheduled for the 19th February 2021. Please make sure you have your say today: www.blackburn.gov.uk/localplan
Importantly, the plan aim to boost the Borough’s Covid-19 recovery by improving housing, health and infrastructure such as roads and schools.
With a large number of multi-generational families living together in smaller traditional terraced housing, the new plan will emphasise the importance of providing both high quality larger and affordable housing in the areas most needed. It also aims to boost town centre recovery post Covid-19.
Youth MP for Blackburn with Darwen, Zara Hayat, has helped to narrate the video to help explain the plan.
She urged everyone in the borough to have their say.
She said:
The pandemic has put huge pressures on everyone and changed the way we do things; in some ways it has even shaped how future generations will work in the future.
We have to plan for the future to ensure we provide opportunities and better housing.
I would encourage everyone to have a look at the video as it helps to explain what is planned and how you can get involved. I especially hope young people will comment as your views really do matter for the future of our borough.
Every borough needs to adopt a Local Plan to ensure there is enough additional quality housing and employment development for future generations – quality jobs and homes are also directly linked to economic growth – where future generations want to live and work.
The Council has planned for ongoing disruptions to how it would normally carry out the consultation due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and latest lockdown restrictions.
It is utilising both traditional advertising and latest technology to capture residents’ views – including using a QR code that takes residents direct to the survey. You can scan the code here – you can just open the camera on your smartphone and scan the code to take you straight to the page:
Information packs have been delivered to every household. We are also working remotely with local schools and children to ensure a broad range of views are captured.
Display boards outlining the plan’s ambitions can be seen by anyone who is already out doing their essential shopping in both Blackburn and Darwen Markets following Covid safe guidelines. Everyone else is encouraged to view the boards on the web page. Please do get involved and have your say at www.blackburn.gov.uk/localplan
Following the consultation, it is expected the new plan will be submitted for examination by the government in late 2021 before being adopted in 2022.
Please have your say today: www.blackburn.gov.uk/localplan
You can read the previous Shuttle article here: Ambitious plans for new housing and jobs: Have your say | The Shuttle: Blackburn with Darwen Council News
Filed under : Local Plan | Planning