Rutland residents invited to have their say on housing development plan

A council has invited residents to have their say on a long-term housing development plan.

Launched on Monday (July 27), the six-week consultation phase of Rutland County Council’s 2021-2041 Local Plan is now in effect, enabling residents in Rutland to comment on the “main modifications” made to the plan after several months of legal examination.

Local plans are documents that set out a long-term vision for how land under a council’s jurisdiction should be used, providing guidance for future developments.

Councillor Paul Browne (Lib Dem), who sits on the cabinet as a member for planning and place, said: “The Local Plan is one of the most important documents the council prepares, helping to shape how Rutland develops over the coming years while protecting the qualities that make our county such a special place to live and work.

“The publication of these proposed main modifications marks a significant milestone in the plan-making process. We encourage anyone with an interest in the future of Rutland to take the opportunity to review the proposed changes and let us know their views before the consultation closes.”

Modifications to the Local Plan include amended policy wording to make it clearer and the removal of specific targets to provide for future localised housing market assessments.

According to the council, this phase, which is scheduled to conclude on September 4, will be the last public consultation stage before a final report is drafted and adoption of the plan is considered.

Residents can submit their comments through the Rutland County Council website, where more information on the modifications can also be found.

While work continues on the council’s 2021-2041 Local Plan, the preliminary development stages of its successor are under way.

A follow-up plan covering the 20-year period between 2026 and 2046 was mandated by the government in 2024 to account for new housing calculation methods, and Rutland’s annual target bump from 123 homes a year to 269.

Official adoption of the 2026-2046 local plan is expected by the end of this decade, at which point the 2021-2041 plan would be superseded.