People living in the  Great Yarmouth area have been invited to have their say on the future of development in the borough.

The first draft of the new Local Plan has been published and a public consultation will run until Wednesday, May 8.

The Local Plan is a key document which sets out a vision for the future development of the borough, including the amount of development which needs to be planned as well as how it should be delivered.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Great Yarmouth Town Hall will be one of the venues of public Local Plan drop in sessions to be held in April. Picture - Denise BradleyGreat Yarmouth Town Hall will be one of the venues of public Local Plan drop in sessions to be held in April. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)The Local Plan also sets out planning policies which are used to help determine planning applications for development.

The First Draft Local Plan proposes a target of 7,200 new homes for the borough between now and 2041, alongside an additional 38 hectares of development for industrial and business use.

The draft proposes that the urban areas of Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Bradwell should be the main focus for growth. In these areas, the draft aims to facilitate the regeneration of brownfield sites in the town centre and along the waterfront, as well as the development of sustainable sites on the edge of the urban area.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The development of eighteen homes at Jubilee Court was completed on Monday. Picture - Sonya DuncanThe development of eighteen homes at Jubilee Court was completed on Monday. Picture - Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)Caister and other villages are also proposed to grow to help support the viability of local services and provide housing to meet local needs.

The council is also consulting on potential rates for a community infrastructure levy to secure funding from developers to provide infrastructure.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Councillor Daniel Candon, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's head of economic development and growth. Picture - NewsquestCouncillor Daniel Candon, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's head of economic development and growth. Picture - Newsquest (Image: Submitted)Councillor Daniel Candon said: "The Local Plan is pivotal to how and what future development in the area will look like and be determined. The draft has been created with the input of a wide range of stakeholders and follows wide public consultation.

"We hope people will engage with the draft and provide feedback which will help us produce a final version and a blueprint for the future."

Information about the consultation can be found at https://localplan.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/

 

Drop in sessions

A series of drop-in events will take place in April where Great Yarmouth Borough Council planning officers will be available to talk about the consultation:

April 15, 10am to 6pm – Great Yarmouth Town Hall

April 16, 4:30pm to 8:30pm – All Saints Parish Hall, Beach Road, Scratby

April 22, 4:30pm to 8:30pm – The Old School Village Centre, Green Lane, Bradwell 

An online webinar will also take place on Wednesday March 27.

To attend the webinar, email localplan@great-yarmouth.gov.uk

Great Yarmouth Mercury: North Quay from the air. Picture - GYBCNorth Quay from the air. Picture - GYBC (Image: GYBC)