20 Year Growth Plan for Wyre Forest Takes a Step Forward

On Thursday 26^th May, Wyre Forest District Council launches six weeks of consultation on the detailed plans on a planning blueprint for the future development of the district to 2026 that will guide the consideration of future planning applications.

All stakeholders in Wyre Forest will have the opportunity to have their say on where future development is to be located. Three documents will be published for consultation on Thursday. The first is called the Site Allocations and Policies document and has district wide coverage. The second is the Kidderminster Central Area Action Plan which looks at the specific challenges facing Kidderminster town centre and adjacent communities. Finally, the third document is a specific development brief for the regeneration area of the Horsefair, called the Churchfields Masterplan. Get involved and take a look at these three new documents that will almost certainly have an impact on your community.

Councillor John Campion, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council said:

“The Local Development Framework is part of a co-ordinated package of measures developed over the last three years that aims to promote Kidderminster and the wider district as a location to do business. We are positioning the district to attract inward investment.”

The plans set out how the Council intends to accommodate 4,000 new homes and the sites where houses can be built. This includes major plans for Churchfields and the Eastern Approaches to Stourport-on-Severn. The documents also provide information on how and where business development will be promoted. Other key changes being considered include the plans for Major Developed Sites in the Green Belt. This includes a proposed new designation for the West Midland Safari Park and possible alternative uses for the former Lea Castle Hospital.

Consultation documents were approved by the Council on 18^th May 2011. The process will involve a series of roadshow events being held across the three towns as follows:

• Saturday 28^th May – Kidderminster Market – 10-4
• Saturday 4^th June – Bewdley Museum – 10.30-4
• Thursday 9^th June – Rowland Hill Centre, Kidderminster – 11-5
• Saturday 11^th June – Former Lloyds Garage, Stourport-on-Severn – 11-5

Councillor Julian Phillips, Cabinet Member for Place-Shaping said: “Now is the stage when things start to get more interesting to a wider audience, when decisions are made involving specific parcels of land. Now is the time to get involved and influence the decisions that could affect development near you. I would invite everyone with an interest in the future of the district to get involved in this consultation process.”

The consultation will close on Friday 8th July 2011. The Churchfields Masterplan is expected to be adopted in September 2011, but there will be further formal stages for the Site Allocations and Kidderminster Central Area Action Plan. These two documents are not expected to be adopted until early 2013.

View the consultations.

For more information email the Planning Policy team or call 01562 732928.

Issued on - 23rd May 2011.