MORE than 7,000 comments made on the draft plan that will guide development and planning decisions in Basingstoke and Deane until at least 2040 are being considered by the borough council. 

Earlier in the year, people took the chance to get involved in forming the borough’s next Local Plan, which will shape development in our areas for the next 15 years. 

The Local Plan includes where homes, and other types of development, will be built and how the environment can be protected. 

During the borough-wide consultation, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council encouraged people to have their say on the plan and policies supporting it and these comments can now be viewed online at basingstoke.gov.uk/LPU-reg18-consultation. 

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Cabinet member for strategic planning and infrastructure Cllr Andy Konieczko said: “Earlier this year we invited people to have their say on the plan and I’m delighted that so many people gave us their feedback. I’d like to thank everyone for taking the time to share their views and play an important part in shaping this plan for our borough. 

“These responses have given us plenty to think about over the coming months as we use these comments to help shape the next version of the Local Plan. 

“We’ve had lots of comments on the proposed housing sites that we included in the draft plan. There have also been suggestions covering topics such as improving the energy efficiency of any new homes that we build in our area, better protecting our green spaces and waterways and looking at how much water we use.

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“We will now be updating our Local Plan policies and site allocations to reflect these views, ready to present a revised version for consultation early next year.”  

Cllr Konieczko added: “It is our priority to move this plan forward to protect our borough from speculative development, while also delivering a plan that meets the needs of the people living and working here.” 

The latest information on the local plan update is on the website at basingstoke.gov.uk/LPU.