‘It's going to set the scene for how we create a liveable city & deal with climate change for the next 20 years’
Residents, businesses and community groups are being invited to share their views on the council’ draft ‘City Vision’, Southampton’s new local plan, which will set out policies for years to come.
Article continues after this message...
The consultation will run from October 31 to December 23.
The plan explains the policies that have been developed following an earlier consultation in 2020, and seeks feedback on options to be taken forward.
Southampton City Council said citizens’ input into the draft is “incredibly important, being an opportunity to directly influence the standards against which future development will be assessed, from affordable homes to the waterfront, as well as how we go about delivering new homes, employment areas and other essential facilities and infrastructure”.
Cllr Sarah Bogle, cabinet member for economic development (Lab), said: “It is an exciting time for Southampton as it grows and develops as a city, with opportunities to open up more of the waterfront, redevelop many brownfield sites and take advantage of new initiatives like the Solent Freeport.
“Southampton City Vision is an important framework that will inform all the planning decisions in the city and therefore shape all new development. It is there to protect what we love about our communities, as well as help change the city as it grows; this is why we want our citizens to have their say and comment on the local plan to ensure we achieve the right balance between stability and transformation.”
Transition Southampton, a local group that believes in “a positive, sustainable, community imagined future”, said it will be gathering expert opinion on how well the Local Plan will future proof the city against climate change, and encouraging people to share their feedback via the consultation and social media.
Transition member Liz Batten said: "We ran a workshop called Imagine Southampton in 2016 and many people said they wanted more involvement in the planning and development process in Southampton.
“This Local Plan is the one big opportunity we have to do just that – it's going to set the scene for how we create a liveable city and also deal with climate change for the next 20 years. We have until 23rd December to tell the City Council what's really important for us, as residents."
SCC says people will be able to have their say online at yourcityyoursay.southampton.gov.uk/city-vision or in the city’s libraries and Civic Centre.