CHANGES TO THE PREFERRED OPTIONS CORE STRATEGY

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1  As part of the Minerals and Waste Development Framework the County Council is required to produce three Development Plan Documents (DPDs). The Core Strategy is the first of these and sets out what the plan will do. The others that derive from it are the Site Allocation Policies and the  Generic Development Control Policies for dealing with planning applications. A Proposals Map is also required. The challenge for this new type of plan is to :-

  • provide for the sustainable minerals and waste management developments that will be needed in Cumbria by 2020 and beyond, whilst,

  • helping to achieve  sustainable consumption and production,
  • living within environmental limits,
  • protecting the quality of life of present and future generations, and
  • ensuring the prudent use of natural resources.

1.2 Meeting this challenge raises a number of questions about what we should be planning for in order to help deliver sustainable development. These questions are summarised below.

Achieving a sustainable economy

  • what types of minerals and wastes?
  • what quantities of them over the plan period?
  • how many and what type of sites and facilities?  
  • what contribution can be made to securing / enhancing economic viability and vitality?

Living within environmental limits

  • how to protect, maintain and enhance the environment?
  • where should sites and facilities  be located?
  • how to ensure the environmental impacts of development are acceptable?

Sustainability Appraisal

1.3 Throughout the preparation of the plan, the process has been informed by  Sustainability Appraisal. Following the Scoping Report, the appraisal work was undertaken by consultants commissioned by the County Council.i

Consultations

1.4 During June to September 2006 the County Council consulted upon the issues and options for the Minerals and Waste Development Framework . The comments that were made then, about the matters that face us in planning for minerals and waste management developments, helped to identify the Preferred Options. These were published in March 2007 and were the first draft of the plan. We  have now had to incorporate changes to the Preferred Options Core Strategy,  which means that  the consultations have to be repeated.  We are now asking for comments  on these  "Proposed Changes to the Preferred Options Core Strategy".  Your views  will help shape the final document that will be submitted to Government early in 2008.

1.5 Because of the requirements of the Regulations that control how the plan is prepared there is only a six week period for submitting comments, this is from  1st November to 14th December 2007.  Comments can be made directly on this document, and forms can be downloaded from the County Council web site:   

www.cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment/planning/policy/minerals_waste/mwdf/mwdevframe.asp

1.6 A web-based version of this document is available on the web site, where you can make representations directly on-line. Comments can also be posted to The Environment Unit, County Offices, Kendal LA9 4RQ. For help or advice please phone 01539 773425 or 773548 or email mwdf@cumbriacc.gov.uk

1.7 The final version of the Generic Development Control Policies Development Plan Document will be submitted  to Government Office at the same time as the Core Strategy. The Preferred Options Site Allocations document and the maps that will form the basis for the Proposals Map are  being revised, because additional sites need to be included and others may no longer be proposed. Consultations on these revised documents are programmed for  late 2008/ early 2009.