News Maidstone Borough Council calls for sites
Ahead of a consultation on its Local Plan Review later in 2019, MBC is calling on interested parties to propose sites that could be suitable for future development.
Ahead of a consultation on its Local Plan Review later in 2019, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is calling on interested parties to propose sites that could be suitable for future development.
A key early step in the preparation for the Local Plan Review, MBC is asking landowners, developers and interested parties to propose sites for all types of development in the Borough. This is to give the Council a starting list of sites, from which it can select the best to meet its future development needs.
The ‘Call for Sites’ is an open request for information about land which may have potential for new housing, commercial development – employment, shopping and leisure. This also includes proposals for Gypsies and Travellers’ accommodation in the future.
Strategic Planning Manager, Planning Policy & Environment, Mark Egerton, of MBC said:
“This is a really important piece of work for Maidstone, to help the Council in its choice of land for future development. We’re keen to work with the community, especially with landowners and developers, to map out potential sites and be clear about what development could take place in the future. Maidstone’s current Local Plan was adopted in 2017 and it must reviewed at least every five years. It is this statutory review process which MBC is currently embarking on.”
Innovative approaches may be required, such as planning brand new settlements or neighbourhoods following ‘garden city’ principles and MBC have prepared an information pack including a dedicated New Garden Communities Prospectus as guidance for those who are planning to submit a site https://maidstone.gov.uk/callforsites.
For sites to be considered as part of the current exercise, they will need to be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24 May 2019. Importantly, submitting a site through the Call for Sites does not mean that it will be agreed for inclusion in the Local Plan Review, or that it will get planning permission in the future.