Fylde residents are invited to comment on the new Fylde Local Plan to 2042, which opens for public consultation today.
This six‑week consultation, running from Friday 18 September to 5pm on Friday 30 October, sets out how Fylde must respond to increased housing requirements set by the Government. National policy requires all councils to review their Local Plans and plan for the number of homes mandated through the Government’s standard method.
The draft Local Plan includes a requirement for 6,656 new homes, a figure imposed nationally and not chosen locally. If Fylde does not update its Local Plan by December 2026, national policy will deem existing housing policies out‑of‑date, leaving the borough with no defence against speculative development. By focusing 90% of new homes in the four most sustainable strategic locations and avoiding any strategic release of Green Belt, the Council aims to protect Fylde’s countryside and distinctive character while meeting these mandatory targets.
Councillor Gavin Harrison, Chair of the Planning Committee, said: “This stage of the Local Plan is about applying careful scrutiny to how Fylde responds to national housing requirements. We are required to plan for higher numbers set by Government, and the draft plan aims to manage that pressure in a way that protects Fylde’s character and directs development to the most appropriate locations. I encourage residents to review the proposals and tell us what matters most to them.”
Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, added: “The Government has increased the housing numbers that every council must plan for, and this review ensures Fylde complies with those rules. It’s vital that residents have their say on how these mandatory requirements are handled locally. This consultation is your opportunity to influence the plan before it goes any further.”
All representations will be passed to the Secretary of State as part of the examination process. Residents are asked to read the Privacy Notice before commenting.
The digital plan, evidence base and online response form are available at www.fylde.gov.uk/2042.
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