Comments on Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan are invited by the Council and must be made before the consultation's closing date of 8 March 2019

Sidmouth Town Council has submitted their Neighbourhood Plan to East Devon District Council. A Neighbourhood Plan is a planning policy document that will be used by the District Council's Development Management team when considering planning applications within the Parish.

The District Council has already begun the process of consulting on the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan, which they must do for six weeks before it goes to an independent examiner, who will inspect the plan against a series of 'basic conditions' that the plan must meet. Should the examiner conclude that the plan meets the basic conditions it will proceed to a local referendum where, should more than half of the electors in the local area vote in favour of the plan, it will become part of the statutory development plan for East Devon.

The plan, plus supporting documents and a comments form is available on the East Devon website.

East Devon would like to encourage anyone wanting to make a comment to use the form as feedback will be taken into consideration by the examiner who will receive any representations after the consultation closes on 8 March 2019. Representations will also be made available on the East Devon website.

Sidmouth has the second largest population in East Devon, with just under 14,500 residents, representing ten per cent of the total district population. The Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan, which has been in production since March 2016, covers a variety of topics including the natural and built environment, the economy and employment, housing, transport, and community facilities.

Cllr Bruce De Saram, East Devon District Council's Neighbourhood Planning Lead Councillor, said:

I am delighted to see the progress made by colleagues in Sidmouth on the production of their Neighbourhood Plan. The submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan is the result of a great deal of hard work by volunteer steering group members, working to deliver local objectives, informed by extensive public engagement and consultation. I congratulate the steering group on the production of a Neighbourhood Plan, which with the support of the local community, will serve Sidmouth Parish for many years to come.