Coffee Afternoon

Free coffee afternoon with a chance to have your say on planning reforms!

Join us at The Community Room on The Bayle for free refreshments at any time between 3 – 5 pm on Wednesday 28 August.

We really want to hear your opinions on the Government’s announced changes to the planning system, so come along and have a chat with us!

ABOUT THE REFORMS

The Government has proposed reforms to the planning system.  The first part announced will be changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), with a Bill due to be published also.

Some key elements of the changes include:

• A return to mandatory housing targets – nearly 380,000 a year nationwide
• A new method of calculating local targets
• An aim for 1.5 million dwellings built by the end of the decade
• Introduction of “grey belt” land allocation suitable for housing
• “Golden rules” for building on green belt
• Meeting social rent need

There is currently no plan to have local Councils building social housing.

We appreciate that there’s a lot of documentation to read and many questions, so we want to speak to local people and get their opinions on the current housing crisis and whether the proposed changes will make a positive difference.

You can read more on our blog post: Will new planning system solve the housing crisis?

Click here for the Government consultation on the proposed changes to the NPPF.

ABOUT THE VENUE

The Community Room is located at 19 The Bayle, where Dance Easy used to stand, in an attractive Georgian-style townhouse.  It is run by the Sunflower House team on a partnership model, where local groups and organisations offering community benefits with similar values are able to utilise the space.

TRAVEL TO THE VENUE

By Bus:

The venue is about a 600 metre walk (one-third of a mile) from the bus station.  Head down West Cliff Gardens (between the HSBC and Lloyds banks) and straight through the churchyard, turning left when you get to the British Lion pub.  The room is opposite the Bayle Pond.

For step-free access avoiding cobblestones, go down the pedestrian precinct to the Town Hall and turn right onto Church Street.  Follow that to the end (past the school), turn left and veer left as above.

By Car:

The nearest Pay and Display car park is Upper Payers Park, accessed from Dover Road (passing the F51 skate park) next to the amusements where the Banksy was located originally.  Walk to the end of Payers Park, turn right onto the Old High Street and walk up to the top.  Turn left, then take the first right.  The building will be on your right after the Glendale building.

For step-free access avoiding cobblestones, walk out to Dover Road and turn left.  Walk around the amusements building to the front, carry on down Rendezvous Street, cross the road and turn left at the gate (onto what is still Rendezvous Street).  Walk to the top, turn left onto Church Street, follow it to the end (past the school), turn left onto The Bayle and follow the road, which veers left.  The room is on the left, opposite the Bayle Pond.