Rural parish plan open for residents’ review
Residents are being asked to help shape the future of the rural area where they live.
Audley Rural Parish Council’s neighbourhood plan is in its final draft and has been submitted to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
Now the Borough Council is managing a consultation on that plan, which details priorities for neighbourhood needs, conservation and growth, until Monday, 16 December.
The draft document does not propose housing site allocations, as that is part of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Local Plan currently being prepared for submission to the independent Planning Inspectorate for review.
Proposals detail how the parish council sees the area progressing sustainably into the 2040s, including:
- the protection of green spaces;
- preventing the merging of different villages and hamlets into larger residential areas;
- supporting and improving community and recreation facilities, including footpaths;
- protecting heritage and landmarks;
- to help in achieving net carbon zero by 2050.
Other issues identified across the area include the need for more off-road parking and the reduction of traffic speeds; improving transport links; concerns that local schools were close to full capacity; too few homes for single and elderly residents; and that new housing lacked sustainable construction methods.
Census information from 2021 shows that the population of Audley Rural Parish is home to 8,300 people in 3,700 households – threequarters of which are privately owned.
Almost one in five (19 per cent) is aged under 20, while 24 per cent of the population are over-65. Figures also show that 13 per cent of households had no vehicle and 58 per cent of people were classed as ‘economically active’.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is managing the consultation process for Audley Rural Parish Council.
Fuller details of the consultation document are available here . Responses can be made by 16 December 2024 by email at: planningpolicy@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk or by writing to: Planning Policy, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Castle House, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1BL.