RESIDENTS in Bude are being asked to give their opinion on what the future of Bude should look like.

Bude-Stratton Town Council have asked residents to take part in a survey that will help influence what it puts in its ‘Neighbourhood Priority Statement’ – which is a document which sets out what the community sees as important when planning for the future, including things that they’d like to see protected or improved.

The information that is collated from the Neighbourhood Priority Statement will then be fed into Cornwall Council’s next Local Plan.

A Local Plan is a statutory, evidence-based legal document prepared by a local planning authority that sets out the long-term vision, land-use policies, and site allocations for future development across its area.

At present, Cornwall’s Local Plan is legally considered out of date because the changes to the planning policies by the present Labour government to substantially increase the targets for the amount of housing that is being built has left the council needing to develop a new plan.

As a result, there is presently what is known as a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’, meaning that because the council cannot meet the higher housing demand or maintain a five year land supply, planning decisions would default towards approval unless it can be demonstrated that the plans cause significant harm or conflict with valid policies.

The introduction of a new local plan would correct this.

A spokesperson for Bude-Stratton Town Council said: “A Neighbourhood Priority Statement – or NPS – sets out what our community sees as important when planning for the future, including the things we value, would like to protect or would like to see improved.

“An NPS can consider issues including homes, jobs and the local economy, transport, natural spaces and local features, community facilities and infrastructure.

“Once completed and approved, the Bude-Stratton Neighbourhood Priority Statement will help inform Cornwall Council’s new Local Plan, ensuring that local priorities are considered as future planning policies are developed.”

The spokesperson added details of how this will be incorporated into the new local plan, adding: “Cornwall Council is asking people across Cornwall to take part in its Planning for our future survey as it develops a new Local Plan for Cornwall.

“Responses from people in the Bude-Stratton area will also help us understand local priorities as we prepare the Bude-Stratton Neighbourhood Priority Statement.

“By taking part, you’re helping us understand what matters to people locally as we prepare our Neighbourhood Priority Statement, while also contributing to Cornwall Council’s work on the new Local Plan.

“We want the Bude-Stratton Neighbourhood Priority Statement to be informed by views from across our community.

“The more people who take part in the survey, the better the picture we can build of the priorities, needs and aspirations of people across our parish.

“This survey is the first stage of gathering views to help develop our Neighbourhood Priority Statement. There will be further opportunities to have your say on more detailed local priorities as the NPS develops.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The survey is available on the Bude-Stratton Town Council website.