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Â鶹´«Ã½ Borough Council has launched the next stage of consultation on its Local Plan.

The six-week consultation, which begins today (Monday 20 January), is for local residents, businesses and other interested stakeholders to make formal representations on any policy or allocation in the Local Plan, called Â鶹´«Ã½ 2035.

Â鶹´«Ã½ Borough Council’s vision for Â鶹´«Ã½ in 2035 is: "a modern, vibrant town that stands proud of its achievements and uses its strengths to reach its potential. Its strong and diverse communities, neighbourhood structure, sustainable economic growth and excellent connections within and beyond the region will make it a place that people enjoy and want to live, work and visit".

The Local Plan is an important document, setting out the strategic priorities for Â鶹´«Ã½ and the planning policies to deliver:

• Homes and jobs
• Provision of retail, leisure and other commercial development
• Provision of infrastructure for transport, telecommunications, water supply, wastewater, flood risk management, and energy
• Provision of community, social and cultural infrastructure and other local facilities
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment, including landscape and green infrastructure
• Sustainable Growth of Gatwick Airport.

The draft submission Local Plan includes:

• Planning for a minimum of 5,355 new homes within the borough
• Developer contributions towards tree planting can also count towards types of soft landscaping to improve visual amenity and add additional biodiversity value
• Flexible Temporary Art and Creative Uses to generate vibrancy in underused buildings around the town centre to promote attractiveness
• Employment and Skills Development Policy building upon the positive work of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Skills Programme to help address the local skills gap and create employment and training opportunities for Â鶹´«Ã½ residents
• Committing to prepare an Area Action Plan to consider how land in north Â鶹´«Ã½ can best be planned for, including consideration for Gatwick Airport, employment, nature and infrastructure.

The consultation runs until 5pm on 2 March. Comments must be based on whether you consider the plan to comply with legal requirements, the duty to co-operate and whether the plan is sound.

All responses will go to a Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

To have your say and for more information on Â鶹´«Ã½ 2035 visit:

You can also email your comments to forward planning or send them to Local Plan Consultation, Strategic Planning, Â鶹´«Ã½ Borough Council, Town Hall, The Boulevard, Â鶹´«Ã½ RH10 1UZ.