Local Development Plan Consultation Underway

Local Development Plan Consultation Underway

The Outer Hebrides Proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) has been published and the community is invited to comment on it.

The formal consultation period for the Proposed Plan is underway and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar wants as many people as possible to have their say.

The Proposed Plan is available, together with associated documents and maps, in libraries, at council area offices and other community locations.  The documents are also available on the council’s website, where an online version allows you to respond electronically to the consultation.

All sections of the community are welcome to view and comment on the Proposed Plan, with the aim of producing a document which belongs to everyone. The consultation will run until 10 November 2011 and is open to all so there are only two weeks left now to comment on it.

The Proposed Plan sets out the Comhairle’s approach to the development of land in the Outer Hebrides over the next 5 year period and beyond, and represents the Comhairle’s settled view as to what the final adopted content of the Plan should be. The Plan’s main purpose is to set out the policies the Comhairle will use for assessing planning applications.

The Proposed Plan has been subject to extensive consultation in various forms since the process to develop it began in 2009 and input from communities, agencies, developers and individuals has helped shape the Plan.

In its proposals the Plan also confirms the principle of development on sites proposed for housing, economic development, mixed use, and infrastructure. All occupiers and neighbours within 20 metres of land affected by proposals in the Plan have been notified as part of the consultation process.

Following the consultation period, the Proposed Plan will be sent to Scottish Ministers along with any unresolved issues, and passed for independent examination to a Scottish Government appointed person.  The appointed person will look at any outstanding objections and make recommendations based on their findings. It is important that people use this final opportunity to give us their views so that any outstanding issues can be presented to a Scottish Government Reporter for resolution.

You can view the documents and see how to get involved at: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/proposedLDP.asp

Or at the following deposit locations:

Main Comhairle offices in:

Stornoway; Tarbert; Balivanich; and Castlebay.

Local libraries at:

Stornoway Library, Cromwell Street, Stornoway; Shawbost School, Shawbost, Lewis; Sir E Scott School, Tarbert, Harris; Sgoil Lionacleit, Liniclate, Benbecula; and Castlebay School, Castlebay, Barra.

Other Community locations at:

Spors Nis, Lionel, Lewis; Uig Community Shop; Timsgarry, Lewis; Cladach Kirkibost Centre, North Uist; Taigh Chearsabhagh; Lochmaddy, North Uist; and Gleus House, Daliburgh, South Uist.