Community voices heard: Council receives thousands of comments on the Local Plan Update

The seven-week consultation, which closed on 2 January, asked communities for their views on high-level proposals to meet the Government’s new housing target, which more than doubled the number of homes the district must plan for. The council is required to explore all options in finding suitable locations for 18,500 new homes by 2043. 

During November and December, the council met with over 1,000 members of the public at exhibitions, meetings, forums with town and parish councils, and visits to local schools,  answering questions and informing communities on why the Local Plan must be updated, and setting out its proposed development strategies in response to the new targets.  

The council’s Director of Communities and Place, Helen Martin said her planning team has been impressed by the high-quality of comments and is grateful for the invaluable local knowledge: "Thank you to all the residents and businesses who took the time to share their views in our Local Plan consultation. The response rate is unprecedented compared to previous consultations on this topic. These well-informed comments will play a vital role in helping us assess the deliverability of sites included within the indicative and broad locations presented in our development strategy proposals and shape the future of our district."  

What happens next? 

The council’s planning team will now: 

• Review all comments and update potential sites, policies, and supporting documents. 

• Gather further evidence, including the impact on roads and infrastructure needs. 

• Assess whether larger sites are deliverable. 

In summer 2026, the council will publish a final draft of the Local Plan, which it intends to submit to the planning inspectorate, reflecting the feedback received during this consultation.  

"At this point, we’ll be inviting residents and businesses to have their say on whether the plan is legally compliant and consistent with national policy. These comments will be shared with the planning inspector as part of their consideration,” Helen Martin added.  

“Our goal has been to engage as many people as possible so that the plan reflects the views of everyone in the district. Keep an eye on our website, sign up for our newsletter and Local Plan mailing list, and follow us on social media to stay informed about the next steps." 

All comments received on the draft Local Plan will help shape the final version of the plan. This will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate at the end of 2026. A public examination will follow in 2027, and if approved, the council aims to adopt the Local Plan before the end of 2027.