More than 1,700 people have their say on Wealden District Council's core planning strategy

More than 1,700 people from 272 different groups and organisations have had their say, since April, on Wealden District Council's core planning strategy for the area.

Councillor Roy Galley, Wealden District Council's Cabinet member for Planning and Development, said in the statement: "I am pleased that so many have taken the opportunity to become involved. Wealden's Core Strategy has been a triumph for localism, and the interest that has been shown, reflects how important local views are in the planning debate.

"It will be the duty of Inspector to consider these representations and decide whether our Core Strategy is sound and can be legally adopted as the guiding framework for future development in Wealden over the next 20 years."

A press release released by Wealden District Council reveals that the next phase of the Council's Local Development Framework will begin in October and aim to give guidelines for future development in the district for the next 20 years.

An independent inspector will review all of the representations made by the public to do with the proposed Core Strategy which has reduced the housing targets set by the last government to an average of 400 homes a year until 2030. 

This represents a level that Wealden District Council thinks provides the right balance of new housing that is required with the capacity in the area to cope with that growth.

The independent inspector will hold a public meeting at which organisations and members of the public can give evidence to the inspector at the meeting. The Council will appoint a Programme Officer who will contact people who said in their representations that they would like to give evidence.

Details of the venue, date, time and terms of the public examination will be published nearer the time.

You can find out further details and see the proposed Core Strategy Representations that have been received on the Wealden Council website.

All of the Proposed Submission Core Strategy Representations received from February to 18 April 2011 can be viewed on the Wealden Council website.