Local people in Cornwall are being offered their last chance to give their views on the Local Plan which will help shape the future of Cornwall for the next 20 years.

The Cornwall Local Plan sets out the Council’s aims and planning policies for new housing, community facilities, essential public services and infrastructure up to 2030.

The Council first consulted people in Cornwall on the Local Plan in Spring last year. The feedback from this consultation and new evidence was then considered at the meeting of full Council in January this year when members agreed a number of changes to the original proposals.

Among the key changes is an increase in the number of new houses for Cornwall from 42,250 to 47,500 with associated amendments to the proposed distribution of the new housing.

Members of the public, groups and communities are now being invited to comment on these changes. All comments received in response to this further consultation will be submitted to the Secretary of State and will be considered at a public examination.

Edwina Hannaford, the council’s cabinet member for environment, heritage and planning, said “It is vital to have a Local Plan in place for Cornwall as quickly as possible so that planning decisions can be made locally, putting the decisions back in the hands of local people.

“While I recognise the concerns which have been expressed over the proposed increase in housing, we need to ensure that our figures are realistic and reflect the proposed increases in population and the number of planning permissions which have already been granted in Cornwall. This will strengthen the draft Local Plan’s position when it is put forward to the Secretary of State for examination and provide a greater contribution towards meeting housing need.”

“The Plan’s policies also promote important issues such as the local economy, affordable housing, community facilities, renewable energy and other essential infrastructure whilst incorporating measures to enhance Cornwall’s natural and historic assets.”

Consultation on the draft Local Plan will begin on Monday 17 March and end at 5 pm on Monday 28 April.

Members of the public can view the proposed changes and associated documents in Cornwall Council libraries and one stop shops as well as on the Cornwall Local Plan pages of the Cornwall Council website. Printed copies of the Cornwall Local Plan – Strategic Policies Proposed Submission Document can be provided on request, at a cost of £20 (including postage and packaging) by contacting the Local Plans Team at the postal/email address below or by phoning 01872 224283.

All representations should be made using the Representation Form which can be downloaded from the Council’s website and returned either by hand to any of the Council’s offices, by post to Cornwall Council Local Plans Team, Carrick House, St Clement Street, TR1 1EB or by e mail to localplan@cornwall.gov.uk.

Unless significant new issues are raised in this consultation, the Council will then submit the draft Plan (March 2014) and all comments received to the Secretary of State for examination.

“This means that this may be the last chance for members of the public to lodge comments for the examination” said Cornwall’s Head of Planning Phil Mason.

“We are conscious that people put a lot of effort into the last consultation and we are happy to accept comments which were made previously. However we need people to tell us that this is what they want.

“If, in light of changes to our Plan, people want to amend their comments we are also happy to accept minor amendments and the substantive content of their original representation will remain. People can also resubmit a replacement comment if they want to.”