Final round of consultation launched on key planning to shape the future of Leeds

Leeds City Council is encouraging residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to have their say in the final round of consultation on the Local Plan Update. This final round sets out new and updated planning policies, to help the council deliver its climate emergency commitments.

This third round of consultation is the last step, before the Leeds Local Plan Update is submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for independent examination by a planning inspector.

The previous round of consultation, which took place between October and December 2022, saw a supportive response for the proposals, with many residents and local businesses seeing the value of updated planning policies on building low carbon developments, protecting nature and biodiversity, and preparing for the extremes of climate change.

There were, however, concerns raised by the development industry, regarding the capacity to implement proposed policies on net zero carbon developments from the initial adoption of the plan.

The council has carefully considered both the support received and the concerns expressed and are proposing a range of changes to the proposed Local Plan policies to address some of the concerns.

These include proposing a short transition period to the ambitious policy on net zero buildings. This would give the building industry until January 2027 to adjust to new building practices and technology, whilst still maximising energy efficiency and renewable energy generation.

A particular focus of the latest round of consultation will be on the proposed transition period, however comments are also invited on the proposed changes to policies covering the five key themes of carbon reduction, flood risk, green and blue infrastructure, placemaking and sustainable infrastructure.

Speaking about the Local Plan Update consultation Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said: “The Local Plan Update will play a key role in meeting our climate emergency commitments, shaping our city’s planning policies for the long term, to help Leeds on that critical journey to becoming carbon neutral.

“It is really pleasing to see the amount of positive engagement with the previous consultation reflecting how engaged our city is with meeting the climate challenge. These policies will ensure that Leeds does all it can to mitigate carbon through new development and prepare our local communities for wetter winters and warmer summers.

“I welcome this latest round of consultation that seeks further feedback prior to the plan being submitted for review and I would urge everyone to have their say.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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