East of Otley development: Community legal advice
Donation protected
The East of Otley development will add 550 homes and a relief road on the outskirts of Otley. It is the largest local development for decades and is of huge importance to all members of the Otley community. The publicly available plans neither address the priorities of the community as laid out in the Otley Neighbourhood Plan, nor reflect an understanding of recent regional and national commitments to tackle the climate, ecological and inequality crises that we face.
In order to ensure that we can present the strongest case to influence decisions, and recognising the financial strength of the developing consortium, we feel it imperative to take some initial legal advice. The cost of that exploratory advice will be in the region of £3,000 and is needed now to be able to influence the current consultation and the planning application being submitted at the end of February 2021.
There is an opportunity and requirement for an exemplar development, and this is not reflected in the plans. Our community campaign (including Otley 2030, Otley Community Land Trust, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Otley Nature Network and other local community, faith and business groups) will organise working groups and liaise directly with the consortium’s consultants responsible for different elements of the development. The intention is to work through in detail the site masterplan and address conflicts as early as possible, recognising that responsibility for the success of this process does not lie solely with the community.
We are liaising with Town and City Ward Councillors and our MP, and will keep them appraised of our work. This will help to ensure a coordinated community effort that achieves our aim of an exemplar development in line with the Neighbourhood Plan.
There are strong feelings against the development, and some in support of it, but we believe that the consensus is that IF the development is to go ahead, it needs to honour the Otley Neighbourhood Plan and ‘Do the right thing!' by our community, nature and the planet.
The sustainable future of our community depends on this development being pursued in the right way. Please support us by donating whatever you can to our community's future.
In order to ensure that we can present the strongest case to influence decisions, and recognising the financial strength of the developing consortium, we feel it imperative to take some initial legal advice. The cost of that exploratory advice will be in the region of £3,000 and is needed now to be able to influence the current consultation and the planning application being submitted at the end of February 2021.
There is an opportunity and requirement for an exemplar development, and this is not reflected in the plans. Our community campaign (including Otley 2030, Otley Community Land Trust, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Otley Nature Network and other local community, faith and business groups) will organise working groups and liaise directly with the consortium’s consultants responsible for different elements of the development. The intention is to work through in detail the site masterplan and address conflicts as early as possible, recognising that responsibility for the success of this process does not lie solely with the community.
We are liaising with Town and City Ward Councillors and our MP, and will keep them appraised of our work. This will help to ensure a coordinated community effort that achieves our aim of an exemplar development in line with the Neighbourhood Plan.
There are strong feelings against the development, and some in support of it, but we believe that the consensus is that IF the development is to go ahead, it needs to honour the Otley Neighbourhood Plan and ‘Do the right thing!' by our community, nature and the planet.
The sustainable future of our community depends on this development being pursued in the right way. Please support us by donating whatever you can to our community's future.
Organizer
Martin Gaskin
Organizer
