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The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead   has formally submitted its blueprint for providing responsible development over the coming years to the Secretary of State (February 2018).

The Borough Local Plan (BLP) will help shape the next two decades of growth and facilitate new homes and infrastructure which are being provided in the borough.

The plan runs retrospectively from 2013 to 2033 – to ensure future development, including a range of housing, retail, office, leisure, health and education, is built in the right place at the right time.

The council plans to invest £350 million in key infrastructure up to 2025 as part of its commitment to ensure roads, schools and community facilities are in place to support necessary and controlled growth to meet local needs.

Over the next 15 years the council will be investing in schools to give children in the borough the best start in life. The school expansion programme will ensure the infrastructure to support the BLP is delivered when and where it is needed. The programme of expansion could also see six new school sites created across the borough and existing schools expanded.

The plan has been submitted following a series of consultations with residents and businesses and other stakeholders throughout the borough.  A petition against the draft ocal Plan, last SUmmer, attracted over 1,700 signatures. See PETITION ARTICLE.

Cllr David Coppinger, cabinet member for planning and health (inc. sustainability), said: “We are delighted to have submitted the Borough Local Plan for examination and this marks an important milestone in our work to support responsible development to meet the needs of this generation and the next.

“A lot of hard work has gone into producing a plan that ensures we can build a borough for everyone that achieves its potential and is a great place for all our residents to live now and in the future.

“The plan will provide a framework for the council to make decisions on planning applications and this will help manage growth and reduce the risk of inappropriate and opportunistic development that doesn’t take account of local decisions.

“On top of the Borough Local Plan we have our Infrastructure Development Plan and a series of commitments, including investments into school places, transport and community facilities to fully support the development potential outlined in the local plan.”

The plan, along with supporting documentation and representations received during the 2017 Regulation 19 publication stage, will now go to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.

It is expected that a public hearing will take place later this year for the inspector to further explore matters, issues and questions relating to the submitted plan.

If the inspector finds the BLP ‘sound’ the plan can then be considered for formal adoption by the council.

Residents can view the submitted plan and documentation on the council website: www3.rbwm.gov.uk/blp.