Following the Council’s resolution to adopt its Unitary Development Plan, made at its meeting on 28 September 2011, the period for legal challenge has now ended. As no challenges were notified to the Council, the UDP is now therefore the formally adopted development plan for Flintshire.
As such, it replaces and supersedes all previous plans and becomes the single set of policies on which recommendations and decisions on planning applications will be based.
Councillor Tony Sharps, the Executive Member for Environment, said:
“This milestone has been a long time coming and, as a process, it has neither been easy or straight forward, right from the outset. The public enquiry started in September 2007 and concluded in August 2008, having received a record of over 17,000 representations, which proves how the Council has always sought to be open and democratic in its approach to the plan. Regrettably, not all the communities have agreed with the plan, but, now the plan has been adopted, we must proceed to gain the best advantages for all our residents, as I believe we have now achieved a sustainable outcome for Flintshire. The work of the plan has taken nine years and four months to conclude; much credit must go to Andy Roberts’ department and the hard work by all members of the Council.”
The Council is now working to publish a final copy of the plan and also to update the interactive web version. These should be available early in the new year, but in the mean time, all relevant documents that comprise the Plan are available for inspection at the planning reception, County Hall, and on the Council’s website at www.flintshire.gov.uk.
The Council will now need to seek a commencement order from the Welsh Government to begin work on its Local Development Plan, which will replace the UDP once prepared.
Councillor Sharps added: “Whilst the LDP offers a fresh challenge for us all, it also provides a new opportunity to plan effectively and creatively for the future needs of the area. Central to this will be a close dialogue and engagement with the people and communities of Flintshire”.
