Hyndburn submits Local Plan for inspection
Set to guide development in the borough up to 2040, the document has now been lodged with the Secretary of State for examination.
Local authorities across the region are at various stages of getting their ducks in a row with regards to local and sub-regional planning frameworks, as the Labour government looks to establish a foundation for its ambitious 1.5m new homes target.
Wirral’s long-awaited Local Plan has now been signed off by the Planning Inspectorate and can progress to formal adoption, while Greater Manchester’s wrangles over the pan-GM Places for Everyone have been widely reported.
Like all these, Hyndburn’s Local Plan aims to increase the number, quality, and variety of homes in the borough and improve job opportunities by providing new employment land. Long-standing issues to address for Hyndburn include topics such as high levels of poverty, people moving away for work, poor housing conditions, and limited housing options.
The plan sets a goal to build 194 homes each year – 3,686 homes in total – from 2021 to 2040, and to provide 173 acres of new employment land.
Specific areas are mapped out to achieve this goal. This includes 23 housing sites, with around 1,500 new homes planned for Huncoat, and six employment sites, including major new areas at Altham and Whitebirk.
Cllr Munsif Dad, Leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “The submission of the Local Plan 2021-2040 marks a pivotal moment for Hyndburn. This comprehensive plan is designed to deliver economic growth, address housing needs and enhance our environment, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for all residents.
“We want to build housing and create employment opportunities that encourage our residents to stay in Hyndburn and attracts other to live and work in our borough.”
“An overarching theme which runs through the core of the plan is sustainable development, with the need to tackle climate change, protect and enhance the area’s biodiversity and other natural and built heritage assets. Creating a sustainable and safe transport system is also a key theme.”
In the Local Plan, Hyndburn is split into six areas: Accrington Central, Baxenden & Church; Clayton-le-Moors & Altham; Great Harwood; Huncoat; Oswaldtwistle & Knuzden; and Rishton & Whitebirk.
The employment land allocations include land south of Altham Business Park, while the housing allocations include Ringstonhalgh Farm and Clayton Triangle.
The Local Plan centres around five broad objectives:
- To create greater opportunities for all to access improved economic opportunities and to provide support for the local economy and a higher wage employment.
- To provide for a greater choice and quality of housing, including transformational change at Huncoat Garden Village.
- To improve and sustain quality of health and wellbeing and enable active lifestyles.
- To conserve and, where appropriate, enhance a valued urban and rural environment ready to address the causes and effects of climate change.
- To provide easy access for all to good quality services and facilities.
All documentation regarding the Local Plan, including the document itself as submitted to government, can be viewed by following this link. They can also be viewed in physical form at the council offices in Accrington.
