Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Local Nature Partnership
NG2 Business Park
8 Experian Way
Nottingham
NG2 1EP
29th March 2016
Forward Planning Team
Ashfield District Council
Urban Road
Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Nottingham
NG17 8DA
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for requesting Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Local Nature Partnership’s input as part of Ashfield District Council’s Local Plan Preferred Approach consultation process.
We aim to positively contribute to your strategic planning process and Local Plan approval in relation to sustainable development and your Duty to Co-operate with the LNP. We have recently undertaken a natural capital baseline assessment for the Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area. This natural capital data is informing development of our strategy and objectives through which we aim to create an ecologically resilient and rich Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire that supports people, communities and economic growth. Development of the strategy will be complete in summer 2016 and at this point we can contribute to your local plans with specific objectives and targets to support you towards achieving your sustainable development goals.
We have discussed with senior management at both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire County Council planning departments how to discharge the duty to co-operate and incorporate our strategic objectives into local planning. Their advice was for the LNP to set clear spatial priorities and targets which would facilitate the process of inclusion into Local Plans. Because Ashfield is still at a relatively early stage in the Local Plan preparation process we hope it should be feasible for you to incorporate the LNP’s objectives and targets, when they are available, into your Local Plan.
We would welcome ongoing discussions with you as further natural capital data and our strategy both emerge. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact the LNP Co-ordinator, Rosy Carter.
Yours sincerely
Tim Farr, Chair, Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LNP board