Voters in Pannal and Burn Bridge are set to have their say on a proposed neighbourhood plan for the area.
Neighbourhood plans are a relatively new phenomenon having been introduced by the government in 2011.
They are only advisory but planners can use them to understand how a community might feel about a particular local planning issue.
Over the last decade, Pannal has seen lots of new housing being built around the former Dunlopillo factory site.
The 119-page document says the majority of residents would now like to see more small-scale housing on infill sites rather than larger developments.
The proposed plan, which covers the period 2021-2035, also includes aims to protect the Crimple Valley from development, how homes should be designed and improving footpaths.
Writing in the document, Pannal and Burn Bridge parish councillors Howard West and Cathy Burrell said:
“We surveyed, asked and listened to all members of the community so that the plan could accurately reflect their concerns and aspirations for the area we live in.
"Our hope is that we can keep the village feel that we have and preserve the countryside that we enjoy.”
The plan was recently independently examined which concluded it meets the ‘basic conditions’ set out by legislation.
Senior Conservative councillors on the North Yorkshire Council executive yesterday met to approve moving it to the next stage, which will be a referendum.
No date has been set yet but the vote will be open to anyone on the electoral roll who lives in the Pannal and Burn Bridge area.
The question will be: “Do you want North Yorkshire Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Pannal and Burn Bridge to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”
If more than 50% of those voting vote ‘yes’ then the council is required to bring the plan into force, which means that it would form part of the statutory
development plan for North Yorkshire.
Conservative leader Carl Les praised the work undertaken by Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council to get the plan to this stage.
Cllr Simon Myers, Conservative executive member for housing, said he expects the neighbourhood plan to influence the county-wide Local Plan that is being developed by the authority.
Cllr Myers said:
"The government gave communities the opportunity to help shape their future development and it’s great to see them rising to the challenge.
"It’s a lot of work, they’re not easily done but they are very valuable and will no doubt help shape the North Yorkshire local plan in due course.”
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