2 March 2009
What will our borough look like in the future? Where should new housing and businesses go? How and where will we use our leisure time? The answers to these questions and many more will be tackled in an important planning document on the future of the borough - and from 11 March Guildford Borough Council is inviting local people to have their say on it.
The Core Strategy is the central document in a series that make up the Guildford Development Framework (GDF), a planning guide for how the borough will change and grow. A new draft version of the Core Strategy will be available from 11 March until 29 April for residents and businesses to comment on. This updated document takes account of the findings of many research studies and comments from local people from previous consultations.
Lead Councillor for Environment, Cllr Jenny Wicks, comments: “Your responses will help us to continue to develop the Core Strategy, the central part of the wider Guildford Development Framework, setting out how the borough is expected to develop over the coming years. It is also an opportunity for the public and any other interested groups who have taken part in previous consultations to see how the Core Strategy has developed and to give us their feedback.
“It is important we hear as many views as possible as this set of key documents affects many aspects of our lives - from where we live and work to how we use our leisure time. Your views will also allow us to link with the work on the new Sustainable Community Strategy, which will set out the overall direction for the economic, social and environmental well-being of the borough”, adds Cllr Wicks.
The next step after this consultation will be to amend the Core Strategy having considered the responses we receive. We will then publish the updated Core Stratey in September when there will be an opportunity to comment on specific aspects of the strategy including legal issues. The final document will be submitted to the Government in December 2009 and an Examination in Public will be held during 2010.
The consultation on the Core Strategy starts on Wednesday 11 March 2009. People will be able to give their views until Wednesday 29 April. Visit our Core Strategy pages or call the consultation hotline on 01483 444471 for further information.