Daventry district residents to have their say on development plans

Villagers are being consulted on the final version of the Maidwell with Draughton Neighbourhood Development Plan which includes policies to protect and enhance the landscape setting, heritage and green spaces in their areas.

The development plan contains plans to meet local housing needs and improve recreation, education and community facilities, and it also encourages improvements to road safety, traffic and accessibility.

The consultation is open until February 4 and the draft can be viewed online or at the Daventry District Council offices, The Stag Pub in Maidwell, Brixworth Library and Market Harborough Library.

The new year will see residents of three villages go to the polls to decide whether they agree with proposed neighbourhood development plans for their areas.

Poll cards will be among the Christmas post for people living in Badby, Guilsborough and Welton as preparations get under way for planning referendums in the three parishes on Thursday, January 24.

Separate plans for Badby, Guilsborough and Welton have been developed by the parish councils in order to guide the future development of their villages.

Residents in those areas will get to vote on whether Daventry District Council should use their respective neighbourhood development plan to help decide future planning applications.

If more than 50 per cent of those who vote are in favour of an individual plan, then DDC is required to make that plan so it becomes part of the statutory development plan.

Polling cards will now be sent out to residents in the coming weeks and the last date to register to vote is January 8.

Residents in Badby will be able to vote in a polling station at Badby Village Hall, while those in Guilsborough should vote at Guilsborough Village Hall and those in Welton at Welton Village Hall.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, January 24.

Those wishing to arrange to vote by post need to complete an application form and return it to DDC by 5pm on Wednesday, January 9.

Anyone who is unable to get to a polling station, because they are working away or on holiday abroad, for example, can apply for a proxy vote.

Anyone can act as a proxy provided they are willing to do so and are eligible to vote in the referendum.

In order to cast a vote by proxy people need to complete an application form and return it to DDC by 5pm on Wednesday, January 16.

To apply for a postal or proxy vote please email [email protected] or phone 01327 871100

All three neighbourhood development plans have been subject to public consultation before being reviewed by independent examiners, who recommended they go to a referendum.

Meanwhile, work on producing a new Local Plan to help guide and shape future development in Daventry District has taken a step forward after councillors agreed for it to be independently examined.

The Settlements and Countryside Local Plan Part 2 will be formally submitted for examination by a planning inspector, who will determine whether the document complies with legal requirements and whether its policies are "positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy".

The Local Plan Part 2 sets out where new homes and businesses could go, to best meet future need, as well as identifying areas which should be protected.

The Secretary of State will appoint the inspector to conduct the examination and hold a series of public hearings on the plan, which are expected to start taking place in spring next year.

Cllr Alan Chantler, Daventry District Council’s strategic planning portfolio holder, said: “Council’s decision to submit the Settlements and Countryside Local Plan for examination is an important step forward in preparing this key strategic document for our district.

"It marks the culmination of nearly three years of preparations and consultation with our local communities and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved and given their feedback in the process to date.

"We now look forward to the examination stage and its future outcomes."