Rutland County Council has announced the launch of the final public consultation on its new Local Plan, giving local people the opportunity for their voices to be heard on the matter. 

The Local Plan sets out important planning policies for Rutland, as well as outlining sites for additional housing, plans for employment and other development leading to the year 2041. 

The current stage of consultation, known as Regulation 19, gives the people of Rutland the chance to comment on whether they think the Local Plan meets all the necessary legal and procedural requirements.

RRC have had delays and spent over £2.2 million on redrafting the local plan. (Photo: LDRS)

Cllr Gale Waller, Leader of Rutland County Council, says: "We are almost ready to submit Rutland's new Local Plan for independent examination. Before we do, we are seeking final comments on whether or not it meets a number of technical requirements. 

"Regulation 19 is an important stage for checking and fine-tuning the Plan, before it is submitted... We need to stay focused on the task at hand and welcome this opportunity for people to see and comment on the Plan a final time." 

Regulation 19 is now live and open for the public to access via the council's website. There people will be able to read the pre-submission Local Plan and submit their comments on it. This will be open until 4pm on Monday 2nd December. 

The council would like people to note that this stage of plan-making is not a repeat of earlier consultations previously done to shape the Local Plan. As the Plan has already gone through multiple stages of development, the Regulation 19 consultation does not ask for views on alternative options. Instead, it is to focus on whether the plan is legally compliant and "sound." 

In order to be described as "sound," the Local Plan must be positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national planning policy. 

Once the consultation ends, responses will be compiled with the Local Plan and supporting documents before being submitted for independent examination. If the Plan is found sound, it will be be presented back to Rutland County Council's Full Council for adoption. 

For more information about the local plan and how to leave feedback, visit the Rutland Local Plan website.