PUBLIC CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRE

WHAT IS A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN?

At present, decisions on planning applications are made by the Planning Authority (currently Harrogate Borough Council - to be replaced by North Yorkshire Council in April 2023) having regard to policies contained within their Local Plan, together with the Government's planning policy, which is known as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).The Parish Council is asked to provide a consultative opinion on individual applications, but at present its views do not have to be followed.

However, once Masham Neighbourhood Plan is in place (target date 2025), applications in this area will have to comply with the policies which it contains, alongside those in the Harrogate Local Plan and the NPPF, and this will enable us, the local community, to have more influence over any development which takes place in the future.

WHY ARE WE ASKING YOU TO COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE?

The policies within the finished Plan must reflect what the community wants, so it is vital that we consult as much as possible. By ‘community’ we mean those who live, work or operate, or have a specific interest, in the Plan Area. To make sure we capture a wide range of views we will also be carrying out separate ‘Stakeholder’ consultations with local employers, organisations and other community groups, so that their views are also taken into account.

The topics we are asking you about are based on those raised during the ‘Initial Ideas’ gathering process in December 2022, but you do have the opportunity to tell us about anything else that you would like to, at the end of the questionnaire. 

WHO SHOULD COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE?

*It should be completed by all local residents aged 16 or over, and by anyone who lives elsewhere but who works or operates or has a specific interest, in the Plan Area.

*It should be completed anonymously.

*You can answer as many or as few of the questions as you wish.

 

SECTION 1 - HOUSING

If you encounter difficulties opening the above map - be patient and continue pressing your Refresh button!

Under the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-2035 the town of Masham is designated as a ‘Local Service Centre’ and any significant new housing is expected to be located in Masham itself, rather than anywhere else in the Neighbourhood Plan Area. Proposed ‘major’ developments referred to in the Local Plan are:

Land North of Swinton Road, Masham (M8) This site was allocated under the Local Plan and a Planning Application was subsequently made in September 2022. The application, which will deliver 48 properties (including 19 ‘affordable’ homes) is still being considered. Ref 22/03438/FULMAJ.

Land at Westholme Road, Masham (M11). Outline Planning Consent had already been granted before the Local Plan was adopted and a Full Planning Application was then made in April 2021 for 48 properties (including 14 ‘affordable’ homes) Ref 21/01414/REMMAJ which was approved. Work commenced in Spring 2022.

Applications for further housing elsewhere can still be made even if not referred to in the Local Plan, an example of which is:

Site Of Masham Auction Mart, Leyburn Road, Masham. A Full Planning Application was made in October 2021.The application for 20 properties (including 6 ‘affordable’ homes) is still being considered. Ref 21/04470/FULMAJ. 

The Local Plan does however incorporate Development Limits within Masham (outlined in red on the map above) and it is expected that any new housing would be inside these Limits.

In accordance with the settlement hierarchy in the Local Plan, the remaining areas in the Neighbourhood Plan Area are seen as part of the wider countryside and as such only specific types of small scale development would be considered such as the ‘conversion of rural buildings’, ‘replacement dwellings in the countryside’, ‘rural workers dwellings’ and ‘rural exception sites’.

Once in place, our Neighbourhood Plan will be able to influence what kind of housing should be built on future developments and how it should be designed. If the community felt that there should be more housing than that already allocated, and a site was available, the Plan could help bring this forward.

SECTION 2 - ENVIRONMENT/ LANDSCAPE

Some environmental and landscape protection is already provided under the National Planning Policy Framework and under the Local Plan, and certain sections of our Plan Area are also situated within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which provides additional protection to those areas.

However, the creation of a Neighbourhood Plan is an opportunity to consider further protection and to gather ideas about initiatives to tackle climate change.

Please complete Q16 and Q17 if you are a farmer or operate a rural business or work in the countryside. Otherwise please go to Q18.

SECTION 3 - BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT

 

There is a need to ascertain the levels of existing businesses and their future needs and aspirations. To that end, if you are self-employed or run a local business with ten or fewer employees could you please answer the following questions?    Otherwise please go to Q22. Employers with over ten employees will be consulted under the Stakeholder consulatation.

SECTION 4 - HERITAGE

Given the historic nature of the Masham area it is important that Heritage aspects be fully considered within the Neighbourhood Plan.

SECTION 5 - INFRASTRUCTURE

SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION - COMMUNITY SERVICES

 

Whilst not directly relevant to the Neighbourhood Plan please complete this additional section in order to provide your views on Community Services within the area. This information will be used to guide the Parish Council, the Community Office and other Community Service providers.

D. We are interested in your use of, and views about, facilities and services already available in Masham.

GENERAL INFORMATION

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE.