CANPLAN

The Chapel Allerton Neighbourhood Plan (CANPLAN) is one way of giving the communities in Chapel Allerton the chance to decide what their priorities are with respect to future planning developments in this area.

 

Planning decisions are made by Leeds City Council, but both the government and the council want local communities to be more involved in decision making. So each area is invited to put forward a Neighbourhood Plan which can be incorporated into the council’s Unitary Development Plan for the city.

 

 CANPLAN was formed after a local Forum meeting last December. It consists of a steering committee, and four sub-committees – transport, natural environment, sustainable community and built environment. Its aim is to produce a Neighbourhood Plan and put it before the council.

Early this year CANPLAN circulated a leaflet outlining what is distinctive about the area and what are the essential features worth preserving. We had a good response from people who agreed with broad points about the need for easy pedestrian access, variety in local shops, the importance of preserving buildings and encouragement of community initiatives.

 

However the Neighbourhood Plan needs much more detailed information about the area and also many more ideas about what people think, in relation to traffic, parking, open spaces, trees, land use, leisure facilities, bars and take-aways, children’s facilities, public transport and sustainability.

 

We are interested in listening to the views of the whole community. We need to know what you like and also what you dislike about Chapel Allerton and how this might affect future planning decisions.

We plan to launch a more detailed survey into people’s views this autumn, and, when that is analysed, to put the recommendations to public meetings and local groups to get their response. We will be attending local Forum meetings and giving a progress report there.

 

There is a massive development planned on the Yorkshire Bank site on Harrogate Road, and many of the principles of the Neighbourhood Plan will be tested there.

 

If you want to know more, or offer support, contact Duncan Dallas by email on cafe-sci@dial.pipex.com or by phone on 2371199.