Residents are being given the chance to shape the future of our towns, villages and countryside in a consultation on development across Waveney.
The first draft of the Local Plan has been released today by Waveney District Council, setting out potential sites in Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Southwold and the rural areas in between.
The council needs to plan for 9,000 new homes, 5,000 jobs and 13,000 sqm of new retail development by 2036.
And residents are being given eight weeks to have their say online or at special exhibitions across the district.
David Ritchie, Waveney's cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said: 'Increased numbers of people are coming to our area to live and work and the local economy is expected to grow, thanks to links with offshore and renewable energy. We need to have a plan in place to accommodate this growth and help create environments where our communities can prosper. The new Local Plan will do just that, identifying key locations where growth would be possible.
'It is important to stress this is the first draft plan and the final version will possibly look quite different depending on the results of this consultation. It gives people an opportunity to give their views, which will be taken into consideration when shaping the next version.'
A call for sites was put out last year, with all options considered and assessed before the draft was put together.
The majority of the development is expected to be in Lowestoft with Carlton Colville, Oulton and Oulton Broad. Nearly 5,000 homes are earmarked here, with infrastructure improvements including the Lake Lothing Third Crossing, medical centre in Oulton and sports facilities in Carlton Colville.
Beccles and Worlingham could see 1,473 new homes built, with improvements including the Beccles Southern Relief Road and an extension to the medical centre. Halesworth and Holton would see 740 new homes - 527 for Bungay and 325 for Southwold/Reydon.
Of the total housing figure, 535 homes have been completed and 2,603 have planning permission.
The consultation closes on September 22. Visit www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/newwaveneylocalplan
Public Exhibitions
Public exhibitions will give residents an opportunity to discuss the draft Local Plan with planning officers. They will be held at:
Beccles Public Hall on August 8, 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Halesworth Rifle Hall on August 10, 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
The Fisher Theatre in Bungay on August 15, 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
The council offices at Riverside in Lowestoft on August 16, 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Reydon Village Hall on August 21, 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Lowestoft Library on September 2, 9.30am to 1pm.
The consultation closes on September 22, with another consultation on the final draft to be held in winter 2017/2018. The plan will then be submitted to the government, and in spring 2018 an independent examiner will hold a hearing. A report will then be issued detailing if the report has been found 'sound' and if approved the council will likely adopt the plan in early summer next year.
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