1 August 2011

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

THE newly-elected East Grinstead Town Council has agreed to the setting up of a neighbourhood plan working group to start putting together a formal Town Plan.

This is in response to changes outlined in the coalition Government’s Localism Bill, first published in December 2010, which sets out the framework and key principles for a system of neighbourhood planning in England. It seeks to create new planning tools to help empower communities to shape and manage development in their local areas.

Chairman of the working group Cllr Heidi Brunsdon said: "This fundamental change to the planning system has a significant local impact. With neighbourhood plans, communities such as East Grinstead will have real choice about the issue of growth. We will have the opportunity to develop our own planning policies and ensure that those neighbourhoods which choose to grow feel the benefits of that decision. Our aim is to give people real choice, and real influence. Localism and neighbourhood plans firmly put decisions for such change back in the hands of those who know what’s best for this town – our residents."

The working party’s next steps are to revisit earlier plans and research, and to consider ideas drawn from a recent strategy-day to develop some formal proposals: these will then be subject to public consultation before being fed into the planning authority, Mid Sussex District Council, to include in the overall District Plan.

Throughout the project local residents, organisations and businesses will be invited to contribute their views and thoughts. These consultations are intended to be a mix of informal and formal including a public meeting to present emerging ideas towards the end of the year.