Grantham residents will have the chance to help shape the future of the district as South Kesteven's Local Plan is reviewed.

South Kesteven District Council's Local Plan for 2011-2036 was adopted in January 2020, with a commitment to an early review allowing the local authority to consider changes in housing needs and provide an update on the provision of employment land and gypsy and traveller accommodation.

The review will take the plan forward to 2041.

SKDC's Cabinet Member for Planning, Cllr Robert Reid, said: "The review will set out the planning framework for the district over the next 20 years up to 2041 and cover issues such as housing provision, the economy, retail and town centres, infrastructure provision and the environment.

"It will also set out the policies by which planning applications will be determined, in addition to allocating land for housing, employment and retail uses.

"Planning plays an essential role in shaping the places where we all live, work and socialise.

"The outcomes of planning revisions have an effect on everyone and for this reason everyone should have the opportunity to be involved in the planning process."

SKDC's Cabinet yesterday (Tuesday 18 August) approved a Local Plan Issues and Options report for public consultation.

The review will need to take account of the Government's standard method for calculating local housing need. That is likely to give a higher minimum housing requirement up to 2041 than the figure of 650 in the adopted Local Plan that runs to 2036.

As part of an assessment of housing and employment land availability developers, landowners, agents, and the public will be invited to submit sites to the council for assessment, to see if they are suitable for inclusion in the Local Plan.

Cllr Reid said: "Public consultation provides an opportunity for local residents and other key stakeholders to engage with the council on key issues regarding the scope of the Local Plan.

"Consultation will take place with the general public as well as a wide range of stakeholders including developers and landowners and statutory consultees.

"A document setting out key issues will be published for a six-week period of consultation from early September to mid-October 2020."

Among other issues to be considered are the need to introduce new or revised planning policies regarding climate change and whether there is scope to amend or include planning policies to help the recovery of the local economy post coronavirus.

More details about the consultation and how to get involved will be published when it is launched.