This post tries to clarify the consultation process and, further below, suggests how you can submit comments.
This whole issue has kicked off this month because Ryedale District Council has to review its Local Plan, a major part of which is to see if new sites for housing need to be identified, to supplement those which are already in the Plan (e.g. the Balk/Aspen Way site).
This year the Review has quite a short timetable because of the Local Government Reform taking place in 2023. (Ryedale, along with other District Councils, will be superseded by the new North Yorkshire unitary authority in April 2023).
Only if a site were to be adopted into the Plan (which we believe would happen later in the summer at the earliest) would it then be possible for Castle Howard to submit a planning application, which would again give rise to further consultation.
While a few people might feel they only need comment when a planning application is actually submitted, others might take the view that the adoption of any site in the Local Plan is the thin end of the wedge and the principle of the development has been established.
Those who attended the lively Parish Assembly on Monday 23 May will have heard Councillor Simon Thackray mention that he and Councillor Steve Mason (also present) were members of a local plan group which was to meet on Tuesday 24 May to have a look at the proposed sites. They naturally wanted to represent residents’ views. Some of you may even have rushed to get in your comments in advance of that meeting. But there is still plenty of time.
The Village website has heard from planning officers at Ryedale DC that;
- Members (i.e. Councillors) were not even starting to make any decisions at that meeting.
- Site submissions were just being presented to Members.
- Officers would be presenting Members with comments made on the full range of site submissions later in the summer.
- As yet, no deadline for comments has been set.
However, a planning officer has now advised that “consideration of sites has begun and we would recommend making comments sooner rather than later as they will inform officer assessments”.
We understand that further information (for instance, supporting documents) about all the 300 sites across Ryedale that have been submitted will be published on their website in due course, and anyone would be welcome to make additional comments after this if they would like to.
So, still wondering how to comment or struggling with the online form?
We published in our post “Review of the Ryedale Plan” on 18 May a link which will take you to this slightly difficult online form asking many tick-box questions, but allowing you also to send a supplementary email. Although the Council would prefer you to use the online form (to make assessment quicker), we have established that you can, if you wish, simply send an email to [email protected] with your views. It will be acknowledged and recorded. Remember to state the site numbers you are commenting on, and your name and address.
For further information visit: https://www.ryedale.gov.uk/information/planning/future-planning/
