Council launches final consultation on Bassetlaw Local Plan after scrapping 4,000 home garden villages

Bassetlaw Garden Village, intended to be a self-sustaining gated community with 4,000 new homes, has now been dropped entirely from the local plan.

A six-week consultation period that began May 10 is now seeking comment on whether the second addendum meets the substantive and legal checks set out in the planning legislation.

The addendum also includes new evidence regarding the amount and mix of affordable housing that can be provided by new residential locations during the life of the Bassetlaw Local Plan to enable more residents to afford to rent or buy a home.

At the end of this final technical consultation period, the Council will submit the Bassetlaw Local Plan Publication Version and First Addendum, together with the Second Addendum and any comments received, to the Independent Planning Inspectorate for consideration over the summer.

The government requires all councils to have an up-to-date approved local plan by December 2023, with consequences if they fail to meet the deadline.

Councilor Jo White, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Bassetlaw Borough Council, said: “It is very disappointing to be further delayed in the local plan process by the Garden Village withdrawal, which was totally beyond our control.

“However, with such a significant change to the local plan, we have an obligation to consult the public and I encourage everyone to participate in this additional, targeted consultation.

“It is important to have an up-to-date local plan and without it the City Council cannot be able to direct and shape investments, provide much-needed quality, affordable housing and better paying jobs for local people, sustainable development and Managing infrastructure in a responsible manner and resistance to speculative development will be significantly reduced.”

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