· Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment
· Employment Land and Premises Study
Latest news
Consultants are working on our behalf on the Strategic
Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and the Employment
Land and Premises Study (ELPS).
We hope that a draft SHLAA report will be available for
consultation in September. We are expecting a draft ELPS
report in October.
Background to the studies
The SHLAA and ELPS are joint studies being carried out by
West Lancashire District Council in partnership with
neighbouring Councils, with Sefton Council leading both
studies.
In the SHLAA, we are seeking to assess how much land might be
available for housing in the Districts over the coming years.
This in turn will help the Council to work out whether we need to
allocate further sites for housing in the future.
The Employment Land and Premises Study aims to answer similar
questions for employment land in the District (i.e. land for
business, office, and industrial use).
Why are we doing these studies?
These studies are required as an important part of the background
work (or "evidence") for our forthcoming Local Development
Framework (LDF).
In carrying out these studies, we are closely following central
government guidance on
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessments (SHLAAs), and
on
employment land studies.
Progress so far with the SHLAA
During autumn 2007 and spring 2008, we carried out a "Call for
Sites". People were invited to suggest pieces of land which they
thought might be appropriate development sites in the future. We
also studied maps, aerial photographs, previous submissions,
planning applications and enquiries by developers, etc., to
identify possible sites ourselves.
We received approximately 270 sites from the public, and
identified another 370 ourselves. We have carried out an
initial assessment of all these sites, taking into account
factors such as whether sites have access, and how far they
are from local services. It is important to note that not
every site will be considered suitable for development.
The housing study methodology below explains how we are carrying
out the studies, and how we assess sites.
> View the draft study
methodology
In April, we appointed the consultants White Young Green
(Manchester) to check the work done so far, and to
complete the site assessment on behalf of the three Councils.
We are expecting a draft final report in September, which we will
consult on for a period of four weeks.
Please note: we will not release site
assessment results for individual sites until the consultants
have completed their independent assessment of all sites.
Progress with the ELPS
In May 2008, we appointed consultants, the BE Group, to carry
out the ELPS on behalf of Sefton, Knowsley, Halton and West
Lancashire Councils. It is expected that a draft final
version of the study will be published for consultation in October
2008.
What happens next?
The Councils will use the results of the studies as we prepare our
LDFs, in particular the Core Strategy and Site Allocations documents. (Please note
that the sites that end up being considered appropriate for
development in the studies will not automatically be
allocated. Choosing and allocating development sites will be
part of the plan-making process, which is distinct from the above
studies.)
Sites proposed in the "Call for Sites" for uses other than
housing or employment will be considered as we carry out initial
work on our LDF.
What if I miss the "Call for Sites"?
There will be other opportunities to suggest sites for development
as we prepare our Local Development Framework. We recommend
that you join our consultation database so that we can
keep you in touch with LDF matters.
What about sites in other Districts?
West Lancashire District Council is carrying out its SHLAA and ELPS
jointly with Sefton, Knowsley and Halton Borough Councils. (Sefton
Council are co-ordinating this exercise.) To find out more
about the studies in any of these Council areas, please visit their
websites:
· Sefton Housing
Land Availability Study
·
Halton Housing Land Availability Study
·
Knowsley Housing Land Availability Study
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Planning Policy team
on:
01695 585274 (Housing Study)
01695 585284 (Employment Study).
Alternatively, you can email us at ldf@westlancsdc.gov.uk.