Plans drawn up by Sedgemoor District Council that will shape the way that Burnham-On-Sea grows over the next two decades are to be examined in public this week by a government appointed inspector.
The examination of Sedgemoor’s Core Strategy, which is part of its Local Development Framework, will take place over six or seven days in Burnham’s Princess Theatre starting at 10am on Tuesday May 24th.
It will be carried out by an independent planning inspector who will hear from people wishing to challenge or support certain elements of the plans with the aim of deciding whether the plans meet legal requirements and are sound.
Among the policies covered are those on the location of future development, including housing, employment and infrastructure.
The plans involve over 1,400 new homes being built in Burnham-On-Sea over 20 years, creating 1,000 new jobs, as outlined here in the core strategy doucument.
Those scheduled to speak include house builders, government agencies and businesses including EDF.
The document states that during the timeframe of the Core Strategy, it is expected that a series of infrastructure proposals of national and local importance relating to energy, economic development, flood risk management and climate change could be brought forward in Sedgemoor.
Group Manager of Strategy and Business Services, Claire Pearce, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It would have been nonsensical to produce a development plan for the next 20 years that ignored the possibility that our district might be the first in the UK to see the associated impacts and development arising from a construction of a new nuclear power station as well as national grid proposals and other major infrastructure schemes.”
“We have a duty to make sure that development is co-ordinated at a local level in ways that supports sustainable living, promotes economic wellbeing and protects our distinctive environment.”
“We believe that by offering guidance through policies in our Core Strategy, we can more effectively work with promoters of projects that will meet national needs to ensure they address local issues and integrate their proposals into development already planned and promoted at the local level by the council and other investors.”
The public examination sessions are set to run from Tuesday May 24th until Wednesday June 1st.
There is a frequent bus service to the venue and parking available in nearby public car parks. For further information on the examination, click here.
