Project
Canterbury Local Plan
Canterbury City Council
Our work supporting Canterbury City Council on its Local Plan was wide ranging – including evidence base, advice on policy wording, and direct support at the Examination hearings.
We commenced our role in 2011 producing the Development Requirements Study which assessed housing and economic development needs and considering the implications of different policy options. Off the back of this the Council moved ahead with an ambitious growth strategy, well above its previous South East Plan target. We updated housing need evidence in 2015 in response to new data, provided wide ranging support to the Council in the run-up to and during the Local Plan Examination, and helped draft policy modifications in response to the Inspector’s preliminary findings.
In parallel, we also provided advice and practical support to the Council securing the introduction of Article 4 Directions restricting permitted development rights for conversion of dwelling houses (C3) to houses in multiple occupation (C4).
Lichfields has provided invaluable expertise and support to Canterbury City Council’s Local Plan process over the past few years. Their robust evidence on housing needs withstood significant scrutiny at our Examination and their dependable, timely and genuinely helpful advice on our local plan housing policies and article 4 directions has helped us forge ahead with implementing our strategy.
Ian Brown, Assistant Director Planning and Regeneration, Canterbury City Council