Final chance to have your say on development plans

Time is running out for residents that have not had their say about plans for the future development of Rochdale.

The Council is putting together a new plan detailing what development should take place up to the year 2026. The plan, called the Core Strategy, once agreed, will form an important part of the council’s Local Development Framework to guide the future allocation of land for housing, employment and recreation. The document will also set out which parts of the district should be protected against development.

Six possible options are being put forward in an Issues and Options report and the council wants residents to get involved and help decide which the best option is. The options identify broad areas for development but don’t allocate specific sites.

A series of public meetings have been taking place over the last few weeks and a final one will be held at Touchstones on The Esplanade in Rochdale on Wednesday 22 October from 7pm. The current consultation period will end on 7 November, so residents need to get their comments back to the council before that date.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, cabinet member for environment and sustainability on Rochdale Council, said: “This is your final chance to get involved in this massive consultation, which will help us shape the policy for the borough’s future. If you’ve not seen how it could affect your local area, then I’d urge you to go on to the website and have a look or pick up a leaflet from your local library or council customer service centre. You can really make a difference by getting involved and telling us what you think of the proposals.”

The report and a leaflet are available on the council website or from local libraries or customer service centre.

You can take part in the consultation by commenting on the document online at www.rochdale.gov.uk/yourviews, completing a comments form available from your local library or customer service centre and returning it to a freepost address, or attending the public meeting/stakeholder event on 7 November at Touchstones.

The six options set out in the Issues and Options Report are:

Allowing a fairly even development in the built up areas of the borough
Focusing development on regeneration areas
Focusing growth mainly on south Rochdale and south Pennines
Focusing growth mainly on Middleton and Heywood
Focusing substantial new development across the southern half of the borough
Allowing substantial new development across the borough including in north Pennines and north Rochdale