By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Southampton City Council is asking residents to help shape a new Local Plan after government reforms forced it to restart work on the key planning document.
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Residents, businesses and community groups are being asked to help shape the initial phase of the process through a fresh public consultation.
The council had previously started preparing a new Local Plan under the former system, with consultations taking place in 2020 and 2022.However, major changes introduced by the government earlier this year mean councils must now follow a new planning regime.
The first stage is a scoping consultation, which asks people what issues and priorities the plan should address.
This exercise, known as the scoping consultation, is open now and runs until Sunday, October 11.
The council has said the views shared during the previous consultations remain relevant, with these responses helping to shape the questions being asked this time around.
The aim is to test whether previously identified priorities are still relevant and identify any new issues that have come to the fore in recent years.
City council leader Sarah Bogle, left, said: “The planning system has changed significantly, requiring us to prepare a new plan under a new national process.
“This consultation is our opportunity to check whether the priorities identified by residents previously are still the right ones and to hear about any new challenges or opportunities facing the city.
“Whether you have taken part before or are getting involved for the first time, I would like as many people as possible to share their views, starting now, but over the next few years to help shape Southampton’s future.”
Local Plans set out where homes, jobs, infrastructure and other development should go over the long term. They also identify land for protection and help determine planning applications.
Southampton City Council’s current adopted strategic planning framework covers 2006 to 2026.
The scoping consultation is the first of three formal consultations that will take place in the Local Plan process.
It is focused on the broad issues and priorities that the plan should address, as well as how people would like to be involved and kept informed as work progresses.
Alongside the Local Plan consultation, the council is also carrying out a strategic environmental assessment scoping consultation and a final call for potential development sites.
These consultations will help build the evidence base for the plan and assess its environmental impacts from the outset.
Following the scoping consultation, the council will consult on proposed plan content and supporting evidence before publishing a full draft Local Plan for a final round of consultation.
Details on the public engagement exercise can be found online.
Photo of Cllr Bogle: Southampton Labour
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