Pre-publication period of Draft Local Plan begins

Enfield councillors will have more than two months to digest and explore the Draft Local Plan during a pre-publication period which sets out the vision for future development in the borough to 2041.Enfield Council’s Leader, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, committed to the pre-publication of the Draft Local Plan to give councillors adequate time to review the draft in its near and final form, engage with their constituents, and to prepare for a Full Council meeting debate on 6 March 2024.The Draft Local Plan will outline where housing can be built and it will determine the future pattern of development. It also includes how we can address key issues such as climate change, the provision of affordable housing in areas where it’s needed the most, the role of town centres, job creation and employment opportunities, and the protection and enhancement of both the built and natural environments.

Cllr Nesil Caliskan, said: “We are proud of this Draft Local Plan which will support the delivery of more and better homes for residents in the right areas of the borough. It will make Enfield a deeply green place by enhancing parks, woodland, open spaces and biodiversity. We will plan for new schools, GP surgeries and places of leisure and recreation for all residents and we will help the local economy to flourish.

“Given the importance of this Draft document, I made a commitment to pre-publish it for 12 weeks which goes above and beyond the statutory requirement. This will allow it to be properly considered ahead of the Council meeting in March.”

The pre-publication period will allow councillors to properly review the document and to speak to their ward residents. The consultation for the Draft Local Plan will not start until after 6 March, if approved at the Full Council meeting.

The Draft Local Plan would then be published for a formal statutory six-week period of public consultation. This is when residents, community groups and other stakeholders will have their chance to formally respond.

Following the end of the consultation period, all responses received, along with the Draft Local Plan and its supporting evidence base, will be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

The Draft Local Plan in its current form is available on the Enfield Council website:  https://www.enfield.gov.uk/services/planning/new-enfield-local-plan