After widespread consultation, Waveney District Council has produced a document that sets out in strategic terms its overall approach to future development in Waveney and once again is asking the public for their views.

The Core Strategy is the first of a number of documents that will form the Waveney Local Development Framework. Councillor Ken Sale, Portfolio Holder for the Built Environment explains: “The Waveney Local Development Framework will guide and manage development in the District during the next decade and beyond. It sets out our vision for Waveney, where we want to be by 2021, how we propose to get there and the principles that will guide our decisions along the way.”

Councillor Sale continues: “The Core Strategy sets down what this vision means for the main settlements in the District, in particular Lowestoft, the market towns and rural areas. It is therefore important that those with an interest take the time to view the full document and provide us with their comments and feedback.”

The Strategy will be published for six weeks consultation from February 25 to April 7 2008. It is being submitted to the Government Office for testing, with a public hearing stage due to take place in September 2008. All representations from this consultation will be sent to the independent inspector appointed to examine the document. If it is found to be ‘sound’ it will be adopted, incorporating any minor changes that may be required.

The Council is sending this Core Strategy to the Secretary of State who will appoint an independent Inspector to ‘examine’ it. At the same time it is seeking comments of support or objection on the Strategy and the vision, objectives and policies that it wants to see delivered across the District to 2021.

Copies of the full document and leaflet can be viewed online or at Council offices and libraries. For more information, call Waveney’s Planning Policy Team on 01502 523 029. Consultation on this document closes at 5pm on 7 April 2008.