Community involvement in planning process

Stevenage Borough Council is encouraging all members of the community to get involved in local planning policy.

Planning decisions can have a fundamental impact on our quality of life. These decisions range from householder extensions through to the regeneration of the town centre. To ensure that everyone is able to comment on planning applications and policies that affect Stevenage , the Council is preparing a Statement of Community Involvement.

In September 2005, the Council published a draft statement for public comment and received a resounding 40 responses to the draft document.

The Council has now produced a revised Statement of Community Involvement setting out how we will involve the community in preparing and reviewing local planning policy and planning applications. The revised document has been submitted to the Secretary of State and will be subject to examination by an independent inspector. The inspector will prepare a binding report setting out how the Council must change the document before it can be adopted.

Executive Councillor for the Environment, John Gardner said: “The Council want to encourage a fair and inclusive community. Participation from local people in the planning system is crucial if Stevenage is to evolve in a way that meets the needs and aspirations of our town. I look forward to receiving residents views and comments about this draft statement.”

Anyone can comment on the revised statement, and the inspector will consider all feedback at the examination.

Copies of the Statement for Community Involvement are available from the Council’s Customer Service Centre on Danestrete, at Stevenage Central Library and Stevenage Old Town Library. The document is also available on stevenage.gov.uk using the following link.

Click here to view the Statement of Community Involvement

Public comments must be received by Friday 24th March 2006 . Post to Planning Policy Team, Stevenage Borough Council, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage , Herts , SG1 1HN . Or you can fax your comments to 01438 242922 or e-mail planningpolicy@stevenage.gov.uk .

Officers from the Council’s Planning Policy team are available to answer questions about the draft Statement and the local planning process in general, telephone 01438 242823.

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For press enquiries contact Mark Rowlands, Corporate Communications on
01438 242657.

For further comment contact Executive Councillor for the Environment, John Gardner on 01438 729010 .

For political comment:

Labour - Bruce Jackson - 01438 350323

Liberal Democrat - Robin Parker - 01438 724746

Conservative - Graham Clark - 01438 360538