FAQ | Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan 2024

1. What is the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan 2024?

This Open Spaces Strategy is an evidence-based report document produced to support the delivery of policies in the Council’s Local Plan, which is currently being updated. Policy EN7 of the Melton Local Plan requires the provision of open space to meet identified deficiencies and to sustain quantity standards as the population grows.

 

The strategy also includes updated recommendations on the collection of developer contributions, noting that these provide a key funding source to meet the needs of new residents in sustainable neighbourhoods and for the overall delivery of this Open Spaces Strategy. Developer contributions apply not only to new open space provision but also to securing resources to maintain these open spaces.

 

2. Why is the Council updating the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan 2024, and why do we need one?

Cabinet adopted the Melton Mowbray Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan in November 2020. This Open Spaces Strategy is an evidence-based report document produced to support the delivery of policies in the Council’s Local Plan, which was adopted in October 2018. Policy EN7 of the Melton Local Plan requires the provision of open space to meet identified deficiencies and to sustain quantity standards as the population grows.

 

​The current document deals solely with Melton Mowbray Town. It does not cover Open Spaces within the rest of the Melton Borough. Additionally, Government legislation requires local councils to review their Local Plan at least every five years. The purpose of the Review is to assess whether any of the policies of the local plan need to be revised. In our case, the Council considered the formal Review in September 2023 and found that a number of the policies needed changing. Since the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan is intended to support the Local Plan and its Local Plan Update, an update of the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan for the entire Melton Borough is warranted. ​

 

Finally, the Council is preparing an updated Green Infrastructure Strategy for Melton Borough. The current Green Infrastructure for the borough is dated 2011. The updated strategy will benefit from being informed by and closely linked to the Melton Borough Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan.

 

3. What exactly is being consulted on?

Your experiences are vital for us to assess the need for open space and any opportunities for new open space provisions and special protections for existing open spaces.

 

We are asking about your experiences with, views and thoughts on open space in the Melton Borough. This consultation asks you about the following:

 

• Existing open space in the Melton Borough;

• Your use of open space in the Melton Borough;

• The accessibility of open space in the Melton Borough;

• Who is involved, or should be involved, in open space management in the Melton Borough.

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4. What will happen after the consultation?

The consultation is open for the duration of six weeks. After the consultation closes on 4 March 2024, the consulting team will produce the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan Report. The results from this report will be taken into account as we progress into the production of the updated Green Infrastructure Strategy for Melton Borough, which will include a separate consultation round.

 

The approximate timetable is:

• Consider the comments received:                                          March 2024

• Draft Open Spaces Strategy & Action Plan Report:               March 2024

• Finalise Open Spaces Strategy & Action Plan Report:           April 2024

• Consultation on Green Infrastructure Strategy:                      April – June 2024

• Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy Report:                           July – September 2024

• Finalise Green Infrastructure Strategy Report:                       October 2024

 

5. Where can I see the evidence used for the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan 2024 Report?

The Council publishes evidence here as it is produced. Any new evidence will be published on this webpage as the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan Update progresses. Some of the evidence used for the adopted Melton Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan 2020 is still relevant and is available here.

 

​6. Does this consultation impact my planning application?

This consultation will not impact any current planning application pending consideration, nor will it change any determined planning applications.

 

7. Will the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan Report affect any future planning applications?

The contents of the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan Report are unlikely to impact decisions about a planning application within the next couple of years, including any planning applications that have already been made. This is because the Local Plan will remain the primary decision making document on planning applications until the proposed Local Plan Update replaces it.

 

Once the Local Plan Update is adopted, it will replace the existing Local Plan and will become the key policy document on open space standards, used to determine planning applications that are being considered at that time.

 

8. What is the National Planning Policy Framework? What about the Planning Practice Guidance?

Open Spaces are subject to the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Practice Guidance, which are written by the Government. These include formal policies and guidance on planning matters, which must be considered when Local Plans are written and when planning applications are being decided upon. You can read the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Practice Guidance.

 

​9. Who is conducting this Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan Consultation?

This consultation is conducted by independent planning company MD2 Consulting Ltd on behalf of Planning Policy of the Melton Borough Council. MD2 Consulting Ltd is based in Durham in the North East of England, and previously produced the existing Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan 2020 for Melton Mowbray.

 

10. How are we processing and protecting your data?

The consultation is anonymous and confidential. Your information will only be used by the consultation team contracted by MD2 Consulting Ltd to process the consultation on the Open Spaces Strategy and Action Plan 2024 for the Borough of Melton.

 

The team will compile a publicly accessible report, which will only contain averages and anonymous responses from the consultation. Identifying you from the data will not be possible. In compliance with the Melton Borough Council Data Protection Act and the Melton Record Retention and Disposal Policy, your responses will be destroyed 1 year from closure of the consultation. The publicly accessible report will remain available.

 

More information

Do you have any other questions? Reach out for further information or advice by phoning emailing planningpolicy@melton.gov.uk.