Lowestoft Town Council
Following two rounds of public consultation and reviewing all the comments received from local residents, businesses and stakeholders, the Neighbourhood Development Plan is in the process of receiving its final revisions ahead of being handed to the local planning authority (East Suffolk Council) for regulation 16.
Regulation 16 is the next phase for making the Neighbourhood Development Plan where the Plan will go out for a further six-week public consultation. The comments given for this will be handed to an independent examiner who will write a report on whether any amendments should be made and if the Plan is ready to go to public referendum.
Once a public referendum has been recommended, members of the community will have the opportunity to vote on whether the Plan should or shouldn't be "made" and therefore before part of planning legislation for Lowestoft. If it is "made", all planning applications in the area would need to adhere to the Neighbourhood Development Plan's policies, alongside the existing National Planning Policy Framework and the Waveney Local Plan.
Lowestoft Town Council has been designated the whole of the parish area of Lowestoft to produce a Neighbourhood Development Plan for. The Lowestoft Neighbourhood Plan is a framework for development and regeneration of Britain's most easterly town. The town is a complex urban area comprising port, town centre, areas of deprivation, retail parks, offshore industry, as well as beaches and tourism.
The Lowestoft Neighbourhood Plan will form part of the statutory development plan for the area, together with the Waveney Local Plan. Planning applications must be determined in accordance with the statutory development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
The Lowestoft Neighbourhood Plan will be adopted by referendum and will set policies for the town for the next 15 years.
Our vision for the Lowestoft Neighbourhood Plan is to secure sustainable and high quality regeneration and economic development for Lowestoft, realising the town's potential as a vibrant and attractive place to live, work, visit and invest.
Our aims for the Neighbourhood Plan are:
What are yours? We welcome your engagement as we develop the plan. Please email your thoughts to admin@lowestofttowncouncil.gov.uk and attend our engagement events which will be publicised here.
Neighbourhood Plans have the opportunity to designate Local Green Spaces which are of particular importance to the town. This will afford protection from development (other than in very special circumstances). Local Green Spaces should only be designated if the green space is:
As we continue to development the Lowestoft Neighbourhood Development Plan we would be interested to hear your views on how policies to mitigate against climate change can be introduced and how the plan can deliver ‘low carbon’ policies. Should there by more cycle paths, should all new builds include electric car charging points, and should tree planting, street trees, rain gardens and green roofs be promoted through new development? In the meantime, you can calculate your own carbon footprint using a simple tool and a range of advice sheets on issues such as the use of energy monitors, electric vehicles, secondary glazing are available to download for free from the centre for sustainable energy.
We would like you to consider which open spaces you value in the Town and let us know if you would like them to be considered for designation via the emerging Plan. Email admin@lowestofttowncouncil.gov.uk
Community Engagement Policy Development Delivery Time Table Local Green Spaces
