The Ilkley Neighbourhood Development Plan (INDP), which sets out a vision for the future growth and development of the Ilkley area over the next 15 to 20 years will go to referendum in May.
Ilkley Town Council is delighted to announce the successful outcome of the recent examination of the plan. The Examiner, Andrew Freeman, stated in his report his satisfaction that, at both the Regulation 14 and the Regulation 16 stages, the consultation process met the legal requirements and there had been procedural compliance.
At its meeting on 1 March Bradford Council’s Executive also recommended the INDP go forward to Referendum in May. Should the outcome of the Referendum be successful the Plan will be ‘made’.
This means the INDP will carry real legal weight and decision-makers will be obliged to make decisions in line with Bradford Council’s local development plan and the INDP when they consider proposals for development in Ilkley.
Cllr Ros Brown, Chair of the INDP Working Group, attended the Executive meeting and spoke about the importance of the INDP to the local community and how the Plan had evolved over time in response to public consultations. Cllr Brown said: "This is great news and I'd like to extend the Town Council's sincere thanks to all those involved over many years for their hard work in reaching this milestone."
The Examiner also noted in his report “It is evident that a considerable amount of time and effort has been devoted to the development and production of this Plan and I congratulate those who have been involved. The Plan should prove to be a useful tool for future planning and change in Ilkley over the coming years.”
More information about the Referendum will be made publicly available in due course.