BRADFORD Council has launched its consultation on a ‘Partial Review’ of its adopted Core Strategy.

The Core Strategy forms an essential part of the Local Plan for the whole of the Bradford district setting out the council’s strategic housing, employment, transport, retail, leisure and environmental policy requirements.

It also sets out the policy framework for the broad location, scale and distribution of sites for mainly housing and employment developments.

Core Strategy policies are also used to help determine planning applications and inform key infrastructure and investment priorities.

Recent updates to national planning policy, particularly in relation to calculating housing requirements, the reinforced protection of the green-belt and local policy changes, including the adoption of a new economic strategy for the district and a focus upon major transport projects, including Northern Powerhouse Rail, make now the best time to carry out this review.

This first stage of consultation on the Core Strategy is called a Partial Review, which involves establishing the range of existing adopted core strategy policies which may require reviewing. This consultation is an early opportunity for local people to help shape Bradford’s planning polices for the future.

The online consultation runs until Friday, February 22, at 5pm and a number of public drop-in sessions have also been arranged to provide further information about the review. Public drop-in sessions will be held at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, on Monday, January 21, from 3.30-7.30pm, Central Hall, Keighley, on Thursday, January 24, from 3.30-7.30pm, Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley, on Tuesday, January 29, from 3.30-7.30pm and Bradford City Hall on Thursday, January 31, from 1pm to 5pm.

Steve Hartley, Director of Place at Bradford Council, said: "This is the first stage of our partial review of the Core Strategy and we’re keen to get feedback on whether we’ve chosen the right areas to take a fresh look at in light of the proposed changes to government planning policy.

"This is just the first stage of the partial review and there will be further opportunities as we progress but we’ve got strong aspirations for our district to grow its economy and provide high quality homes for people so it’s important we get this right.”

Complete the survey online at www.bradford.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/core-strategy-dpd/.

Hard copies are available for inspection at, Britannia House, Keighley Town Hall, Bradford Local Studies Library and at the following libraries: Bradford City, Bingley, Ilkley, Keighley and Shipley.