I would like to draw Natland News readers' attention to the public
notice on page 78 of yesterday's Gazette (Thursday 11th April) advertising a public exhibition about
proposed residential development on land to the south of Natland Mill Beck
Farm, Natland Road. It will be at the Leisure Centre from 2pm to 7pm next
Friday 19 April 2013. It is being organised by Signet Planning on
behalf of Story Homes who are preparing a detailed planning application for for
the site before submission to SLDC. I presume it is to comply with a requirement
of the 2011 Localism Act that developers must seek the views
of local communities before submitting planning application for 'certain'
(larger?) developments.
I have spoken to a resident of Natland Mill Beck Lane this morning and
he was so far unaware of the event, hence this posting to encourage those
affected to find out what's proposed and have their say.
I wonder if the timing is related to the recent ending of the
Government's one-year postponement of its new policy of presumed consent for
all "sustainable" development unless there was an up-to-date local
plan in place that could overrule that principle. That delay was intended
to give local planning authorities time to get their local plans in place, but
it didn't work for SLDC which is still hoping to adopt the Land Allocation
document of its Local Plan later in 2013. I understand
(from last Monday's publication of the "Updated Schedule of Main
Modifications") that it will include the requirement that Natland
Mill Beck Lane shall not be used as a vehicular access to new development in
that area.
Perhaps such fears will be alleviated by a visit to the exhibition.
David Peters - Chairman Natland Parish Council