Help prepare new development plan for Caithness and Sutherland’s future

A major public consultation has now started to help prepare a new 20 year Local Development Plan for the Caithness and Sutherland area, to be known as CaSPlan. The Main Issues Report which has now been published is the first formal stage of preparing the new CaSPlan. It is subject to a 13 week public consultation which closes on 29th January 2015.  

The Main Issues Report – or MIR for short – is not a draft plan, it is a discussion document that sets out initial ideas for what the plan needs to achieve for people and places in the area and where new development might be located.  CaSPlan will eventually be used to assess planning applications and decide how the area grows.  

Leader of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee, Councillor Deirdre Mackay said: “The Main Issues Report is an important stage in the preparation of the new Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan. It provides ideas for what the development plan should deliver based around the themes of employment, growing communities, connectivity and transport, and environment and heritage. It reflects the Council’s initial ideas and preferences for planning for growth in the right places, whilst supporting key industries. For a number of places it includes options for where new homes, jobs and services should be sited.”  

Over the next few days a fact filled leaflet is being sent to every address in the plan area and a notification letter and map to properties within 30m of all sites identified in the MIR. This will help to make people aware of the consultation, the ideas in the MIR and the opportunity to comment.  

Community groups, businesses, public agencies and individual members of the public are urged to give their views. The easiest way to read the Main Issues Report is to view the interactive version online at www.highland.gov.uk/casplan . People can then submit comments using the online form.  A copy of the MIR is also available to view at each Council Service Point and Public Library in the area.  

Councillor Deirdre Mackay added: “It is essential that everyone gets involved at this stage; this is your chance to help shape the future of the places where you live and work”.  

During November and December a series of public events are being held:  

The events will comprise of an afternoon drop-in session and an evening workshop in order to engage communities, inform them about the Main Issues Report and gain their essential feedback. The drop-in sessions run from 2pm to 5:30pm and the evening workshops start at 6:30pm.

If you have questions you can also email the Development Plans Team at casplan@highland.gov.uk . If you do not have access to the website or a computer, you can contact the Development Plans Team, Development and Infrastructure Service, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX or the Council’s Service Centre on 01349 886608.  

Any comments on the Main Issues Report need to be received by The Council no later than 12 noon on Thursday 29th January 2015.

ENDS