North Yorkshire Council has begun the process of developing a new planning blueprint for the county.
The local authority is now accepting call for sites submissions as part of its plans to draw up Local Plan.
The Local Plan will set out where development can take place across North Yorkshire over the next 15 to 20 years.
The Harrogate District Local Plan was adopted in 2014 and was set to be in place until 2035.
However, following the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council and the formation of the unitary authority, North Yorkshire Council is now in the process of drawing up the new North Yorkshire Local Plan, which will replace existing plans for former district authority areas.
As part of the process, landowners or developers have until June to offer their sites for consideration for the new Local Plan.
The council said in a statement sites can be “put forward for any use or designation”. These include housing; employment and commercial development; retail and leisure; renewable energy generation and other environmental enhancement schemes.
Those submitting sites are advised to provide as much detail about the land and intended use as possible, the council said, adding this would enable the local authority to “consider the impacts of the site”.
The council also said it will take “expert advice” on the impact of each proposed site, including the effects on local schools and health services, sewage capacities, wildlife and the infrastructure of surrounding roads.
Nic Harne, the council’s director of community development said:
“The call for sites represents a crucial early stage in our local plan preparations and we welcome submissions from across North Yorkshire.
“However, submitting a site for consideration does not necessarily mean it will be taken forward for development. This exercise is not the planning application process and at this early stage, it is often the case that more sites are submitted than are needed to meet the future needs of the area.”
The council said it would be a “lengthy process that will take several years to complete, including an independent examination of the plan and all of the proposed sites by an appointed planning inspector”.
It added:
“When submitted, these sites will be carefully assessed by planning officers with advice taken from both internal and external specialists on a range of matters from flooding and heritage to impact on the local roads, schools and ecology.”
The news comes just over a month after councillors backed a plea to exclude Knox Lane, in the Bilton area of Harrogate, from the new Local Plan.
Teeside developer Jomast’s plans to build 53 homes off Knox Lane (pictured) were refused last September. However, the Stray Ferret revealed this week the developer has now lodged an appeal with the government’s Planning Inspectorate against the decision.
North Yorkshire Council aims to adopt the revised Local Plan by late 2028.
People will be able to comment on submitted sites at a later date.
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