East Riding’s Future Is Being Decided Now

Download our easy-to-use free guide to have your say and stand up for the countryside near you.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council has opened a 6-week public consultation on its new Local Plan, setting out the long-term vision and strategy for future development of the East Riding over the next two decades. This is a hugely important opportunity to participate in the consultation and influence future policies that will impact the East Riding countryside for many years to come.
Local Plan consultation documents typically run to hundreds of pages. But our expert planning lead is reviewing the scoping documents to produce an easy-to-read guide to the key countryside issues.

What is a Local Plan?

Local Plans are a statutory requirement for all Local Planning Authorities in England. Each Local Plan is a legally binding document that exists to establish certainty and control over how land is used. Amongst others, they convey:

1. Which areas of land are earmarked for development: giving residents predictability over how their area might change over the next two decades
2. The critical infrastructure required to support these new developments: such as GP surgeries, schools, and local green spaces
3. Understanding on how the region is meeting wider government targets: like affordable house quotas and biodiversity net gain

Why should I take part?

Local Plans give local residents, parish councils, and campaign groups a statutory voice in shaping the future and character of the region. This is a hugely important opportunity to participate in the consultation and influence future policies that will impact the East Riding countryside for many years to come.

The plan is in the initial, and also the most important, scoping phase, which covers main priorities and big picture challenges for the region. Once adopted, it will become the starting point for determining local planning applications and for guiding local investment decisions. Therefore, providing your input at this stage is vital to ensure the Local Plan represents as broad a viewpoint as it can.

What areas might the plan cover?

We are currently reviewing what the Local Plan means for the people of East Riding, however, during the scoping phases of a previous local plan for a neighbouring authority, we can see that several vital issues went unrecognised. Without public feedback like yours, these are the types of important spaces and policies that could be left unprotected for future generations.

Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire / Credit: Shutterstock

Protecting ‘On The Edge’ local green spaces

The countryside on the edges of our towns and cities is often some of the most overlooked land in England, yet these spaces hold extraordinary potential. Our edgelands play a vital role in connecting communities to nature close to home as well as tackling the nature and climate crisis by supporting wildlife.

Wetwang, East Riding of Yorkshire / Credit: Victoria Russell

Safeguarding Our Best Farmland

East Riding is dominated by some of the most fertile soils in the country; it’s a food growing powerhouse. Whilst CPRE North & East Yorkshire supports rooftop solar first, the building of solar farms on agricultural and greenfield land threatens food security whilst having a detrimental impact on the beauty of the East Riding.

Yorkshire Wolds / Credit: Martin Sepion / Unsplash

Championing National Landscapes

As the Yorkshire Wolds are considered for National Landscape status, something CPRE North & East Yorkshire have lond advocated for, the new Local Plan must not just protect views within the Landscape itself, but also its setting and the views beyond its immediate boundaries in order to maintain its special character.

We’re making responding easier

Local Plan consultation documents typically run to hundreds of pages. We know finding the time to wade through this type of paperwork can be difficult. That’s why we are building a straightforward, step-by-step response guide to help you submit your feedback directly to the council with confidence.

Our expert planning lead is reviewing the scoping documents to identify any critical policy gaps and develop an informed response that best represents our communities. Pop your name and email address below and we’ll be in touch with our expert easy-to-read analysis of what the proposed new East Riding Local Plan means for you.

Prefer to submit your comments straight away?

If you would like to read the consultation documents directly or submit your own response immediately without waiting for our guide, you can visit the East Riding Council Local Plan portal via the link below.

Help us Stand Up For The Countryside

CPRE North & East Yorkshire are an independent charity fighting for the countryside across our beautiful region. A donation of just £5 helps us deliver planning guides like this as well as speaking up for rural communities on the topics that matter to them. Please consider making a small donation today – you really do make a difference.