A number of proposed changes have been unveiled for Derry City and Strabane District Council's Local Development Plan (LDP) draft Plan Strategy.

An eight-week consultation will take place from Thursday 09 December to 03 February 2022, allowing locals to comment on the proposals.

The LDP will shape the future of all development across Derry and Strabane, and the involvement of the public and local stakeholders has been essential in ensuring a balanced and comprehensive approach to developing the strategy that will guide all local planning decisions, replacing all existing Planning policies, the Derry Area Plan 2011, and the Strabane Area Plan 2001. It will inform the general public, statutory authorities, developers and other interested bodies of the policy framework and land use proposals up to 2032.

Following the publication of the LDP draft Plan Strategy in December 2019, there were public consultations during 2020 and early 2021, to which almost 250 Representations and Counter-Representations were received. The Councillors and the Planning Officers have carefully considered those Representations and are now proposing to make Changes to the published draft Plan Strategy. Anyone may view and make comments on those Proposed Changes, and those comments will then be forwarded to the Department of Infrastructure and the Planning Appeals Commission for final consideration.

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Encouraging people to engage with the consultation, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Alderman Graham Warke said: "I would ask everyone with an interest in Planning matters to take the opportunity to view the Proposed Changes, some of which are quite significant, and then provide feedback to this refinement of the LDP draft Plan Strategy, before it progresses to the next phase in the process."

Head of Planning with the Council, Maura Fox, added: "The preparation of the Local Development Plan is a major undertaking for the Council and community consultation is a critical element of this work. The new LDP will align with the objectives of Council's Strategic Growth Plan and regional planning policy and will empower us as a local authority to have positive Planning policies for our District. It will ensure that lands are appropriately zoned to meet our development needs, as well as protecting our environment, for future generations.

"I am delighted that we have progressed to this stage in the preparation of the LDP, and I would encourage all local stakeholders to continue to contribute to the process going forward by reviewing the Schedule of Proposed Changes and providing any comments before submission to DfI and the PAC."

Access the consultation and make a comment here.