Core Strategy Reaches Final Stages

The council has formally agreed its Core Strategy, which sets out development in the borough until 2028, including how many new houses the area needs and where they might be built.

In April, a special meeting of the council's planning committee decided on its "preferred option" of 4,000 new houses for the borough from 2008 to 2028.

The option, which featured 1,040 properties at the Standen Estate on the outskirts of Clitheroe, 348 for the rest of Clitheroe, 816 at other settlements, 243 at Whalley and 560 at Longridge, some of which have already been built, was then subject to a six-week public consultation.

Residents were invited to comment on whether they thought the strategy had been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements, and whether it was "sound."

Following the consultation, several changes were made to the strategy, which was formally agreed at a meeting of Ribble Valley Borough Council on August 28 and is now subject to further public consultation alongside the Planning Inspectorate's own public examination.

Ribble Valley Borough Council leader Michael Ranson said: "Understandably residents are concerned that future development does not destroy the natural beauty and ambience of Ribble Valley.

"They are also concerned that roads, sewerage, education and medical facilities will be able to cope with the number of new houses.

"The figure of 4,000 is derived from a detailed examination by our consultants and falls far short of the numbers suggested by some developers.

"It is important to understand that the Core Strategy will be a major tool in preserving Ribble Valley and enabling development to meet the needs of residents, not developers."

Further details of the Core Strategy and the consultation on proposed changes to the Core Strategy are available on this website or by contacting 01200 414570.