The Development Plan for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead will set out a long-term vision and guide decisions on where new homes, jobs, infrastructure and community facilities should be located up to 2045, while safeguarding the area's natural environment, heritage and character. It will also consider important issues such as climate change, transport, biodiversity, health and wellbeing, and economic growth.
The scoping consultation marks the beginning of the plan-making process and gives residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders the opportunity to identify the key issues and priorities that should shape future growth and development across the borough.
The new plan which will be developed over the next several years, is set to replace the Borough Local Plan adopted in 2022. Since the previous plan was adopted, there have been significant changes in national planning policy and housing requirements meaning the council must plan for future growth in a way that reflects national guidance as well as local constraints.
Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Planning and Governance, Cllr Adam Bermange, said: “New national planning requirements mean the Royal Borough must now start to prepare a new Local Plan. Despite the monumental challenges in meeting the UK Government's housing targets, we will not shy away from our responsibility to ensure local priorities influence the direction our changing Borough takes.
“Whether it is protecting our green spaces and environment, securing genuinely affordable homes, improving transport links, supporting local businesses or creating thriving communities, we want to hear from as many people as possible, at this early stage, so that local voices are at the heart of determining how our communities develop over the years ahead.”
The scoping consultation will run until Sunday 13 September. Following the consultation, all responses will be carefully considered and help inform the next stage of preparing the Development Plan. There will be further opportunities for residents and stakeholders to comment and get involved as the plan progresses over the coming months and years.
Residents can take part in the consultation online via: https://engage.rbwm.gov.uk/planning/scoping-consultation/. Alternatively, residents can complete the scoping consultation via computers at RBWM libraries across the borough.
Residents invited to shape the Royal Borough's new Development Plan
Work has begun on a new plan that will guide future growth in the Royal Borough over the next two decades with residents invited to help shape the priorities that will influence how their community develops.