Have your say on Medway's first urban Neighbourhood Plan covering central Chatham and Luton by 8 May3/4/2021
A draft of Medway's first urban Neighbourhood Plan has been revealed, with local residents and organisations invited to share their views before its next steps in becoming a legal document. The plan, which covers the next 15 years of parts of central Chatham and Luton, is currently in a consultation period known as 'Regulation 14' until Saturday, 8 May, during which the local community can submit their thoughts on it through a quick online questionnaire. It is being spearheaded by a group of local residents, business owners and organisations, who came together to form the Arches Neighbourhood Forum. With support from national social enterprise and research institute Create Streets, the Neighbourhood Plan takes a look at the future of Chatham's local economy, housing, built and natural environment, sustainable transport and community spaces. It also contains a comprehensive set of policies, based on previous consultation with the local community, to help shape a positive future for that part of the town by guiding where developments could go, how they should look like and what infrastructure may be needed. Once the plan becomes a legal document following inspections by outside bodies and a public referendum, it must be followed by Medway Council when considering whether to approve or refuse planning applications in the Shipwrights, Luton and The Brook areas of Chatham.
While the Arches Neighbourhood Forum hopes its plan will help deliver a greener, healthier and happier area, it is also aspires for it to be the most ambitious Neighbourhood Plan in the country. Arches Neighbourhood Forum secretary Jackson Fraser-Hague said: "This Neighbourhood Plan has been three years in the making. "The plan’s vision is to transform the neighbourhood area into a beautiful, green and prosperous place in which people wish to stay, live and work; a neighbourhood to raise children, help others and grow old; a place in which people can rediscover a sense of community, pride and purpose; a place with a healthy heart. "The draft Plan is now at a stage known as Regulation 14. Regulation 14 is where the plan is publicised far and wide and we invite stakeholders to comment on the plan, e.g. what they agree with, disagree with and where there’s room for improvement. "Once this 10 week period is over on 8th May, all of the formal comments will be considered and we will issue an amended draft before submitting that to Medway Council." Jackson also highlighted that the wider community involvement now, the "greater the Neighbourhood Plan!" "That’s why we’re asking you all to get involved. That could simply be tuning into our webinars, completing our weekly surveys or feeding back via our Regulation 14 form," he added. You can read the draft Neighbourhood Plan and share your thoughts before Saturday, 8 May by visiting the Arches Neighbourhood Forum website, or by clicking here. Stay up-to-date on the plan's progress by following the Arches Neighbourhood Forum on Twitter and Facebook. Comments are closed.
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