As more houses are set to be built in Deeping, let’s not miss opportunity to shape our area’s future.

Residents in Market Deeping and Deeping St James should this week have received a questionnaire from Deepings First, the group working on a neighbourhood development plan for the area, with their copy of the Deepings Advertiser. It is important that everyone gets involved in this process.

People in Deeping have been disappointed and confused by recent planning applications that have been approved despite strong opposition. This happens because planning applications have to be decided on a strict set of criteria laid out in both national and local planning policies.

Our District Council’s planning committee are not able to take into account issues which don’t relate to what planning policies say. To refuse any application they must be able to show how it doesn’t comply with policy.

This is sadly why often even despite strong local opposition to developments, they get approved.

Alongside this process, the District Council are currently writing a new Local Plan. This will set out the overall strategy for development in our area over the next twenty years and how the Government’s house building targets will be achieved. This means that we will have more houses in Deeping and the neighbourhood development plan can’t prevent this. What it can do however, is help to make sure that any development is more suitable for our area and the needs of people in Deeping.

We’re anticipating that the District Council will shortly consult on proposed site allocations for new development including houses. Whilst many may not want more houses, the local plan is actually a defence against more inappropriate housing developments. Without the plan, the Council could struggle to refuse applications to build houses in less suitable areas.

The neighbourhood development plan, for which this week’s questionnaire is part, is one way we can have more say on future developments in Deeping. This is because, crucially, the plan once adopted following a referendum will become planning policy and have to be considered as planning applications are being decided.

Without good involvement from residents in Deeping we will not be able to create a plan that accurately reflects the views of people in the area and ultimately, may not be able to meet legal requirements for these plans and so miss this opportunity to have more influence on what happens.

Please complete and return the questionnaire included with this week’s Deepings Advertiser. Alternatively, you can complete it online.