Local Plan Review

The first stage of the Local Plan review took place in 2022 with the publication of a Scoping and Issues Paper (PDF, 870KB) , the content of which was designed to highlight those areas of the adopted 2018 Local Plan that have been identified as needing review and to establish the overall scope for the remaining stages of the review process.

What were we consulting on?

As part of this first stage of the review, a period of informal public engagement was carried out, inviting everyone with an interest in North East Lincolnshire to:

1. Comment on the areas we identified as needing review
2. Provide feedback on the questions we think need consideration
3. Suggest other areas they think should be included in the review process

The engagement period commenced on Monday 26 September and was due to end on Friday 4 November. However, due to technical issues with the launch of the event on our consultation portal the closing date for responses was extended until 5pm on Monday 7 November 2022.

Drop-in sessions

Initially three informal drop-in events were arranged to provide people with the opportunity to speak with an officer to find out more about the Local Plan review and how they could get involved in the review process. Following feedback received requesting more access for working people to be able to attend these events additional evening and weekend sessions were arranged. Venues included:

• Immingham
• Grimsby library
• Cleethorpes library
• Civic Centre Hub, Immingham

Officers held a briefing session for all Councillors on the various North East Lincolnshire Council Scrutiny Panels and were also invited to and attended:

• Housing developer’s forum meeting
• Town and Parish Council liaison meeting
• Immingham Town Council meeting

Publicity

Along with a Public Notice and various press releases published in the Grimsby Telegraph, an article was included in the Discover North East Lincolnshire, Autumn 2022 edition which was distributed to all households in the Borough. In addition, social media posts on the Council’s Facebook page, Twitter and Linkedin accounts highlighted various topics covered by the Local Plan and encouraged people to get involved with the Local Plan review process.

Everyone with up-to-date contact details on the local plan database were notified directly, either by automated email or letter, of the start of the public engagement period. A reminder email was also sent a week before the end of the engagement period reminding people to get their comments in.

People registered on the Council’s engagement, consultation and involvement mailing list also received information about the Scoping Papers publication and engagement period.

We also made the document available in various formats:

Copies of the Scoping and Issues Paper were made available to view at various locations across the Borough and online, including:

• This page on the council’s website
• Online consultation portal
• North East Lincolnshire Council Municipal Offices
• Equans reception, New Oxford House
• Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Waltham and Immingham libraries
• Tea in the Park at Grant Thorold Park
• The Gingerbread House, Humberston
• Scartho community hub

Consultation results

Responses were received from 117 individuals, including from residents, businesses, landowners, agents and statutory bodies. A total of 643 comments were processed. Some of the main issues raised included:

• New homes should be affordable
• Brownfield land should be developed first
• Empty homes need to be brought back into use
• Protection of green spaces
• Clarity on what ‘urban’ means
• Support for low carbon agenda, energy efficiency, alternative energy sources
• Importance of infrastructure requirements, including schools, medical centres etc.
• More charging points for electric vehicles
• Reduction of light pollution
• Population has fallen, needing less housing
• Modernise town centre, protect villages from development
• Self build plots might break up ‘identikit’ developments
• Improve existing infrastructure, roads, rail, public transport and cycle routes
• Employment has declined; larger businesses have closed. Reuse employment land for employment or housing
• Skills aimed at local businesses
• Expansion of further education facilities
• Improved access to green spaces
• Regenerate the town centre, making it a safe, secure and welcoming place to visit
• Design quality is a matter of opinion, things should look nice but last
• Protection and enhancement of heritage assets and their settings

All the responses received are available to view on our online consultation portal.