Planning

All decisions on planning matters are made by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) Wakefield MDC.

As a statutory consultee the Ackworth Parish Council work to reflect the priorities and values shared by the community in influencing planning decisions to benefit the community. Ackworth Parish Council has no direct power to approve or refuse planning applications. The Parish Council are able to object to applications and ask questions of the LPA.

Ackworth Parish Council will object to tree felling in the parish unless the tree is dead, dying or in a dangerous condition and will resist any inappropriate development in green belt.

All planning matters are presented to the Parish Council at its monthly meeting and disclosed to the public, and any agreed action will be followed up.

Government planning regulations required Local Authorities to identify Local Service Centres. The Regional Spatial Strategy defines Local Service Centres as "towns and villages that provide services that meet the needs of, and are accessible to people living in surrounding rural areas." Ackworth Moor Top matched this description and so was designated a Local Service Centre in the 2007 Local Development Framework. This designation is to meet the requirement of government planning guidelines. Ackworth is still a village.

If you wish to make a comment about any current application, please do so online at www.wakefield.gov.uk/planning or write to Planning Services, Wakefield One, PO Box 700, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2EB.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

Introduction & Legislative Background

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge levied on new development, introduced by the Planning Act 2008. It is intended to help local authorities deliver the infrastructure needed to support development. The power to set a charge came into effect from April 2010, through the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations (2010). This process is called the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund. Wakefield Council passes on 25% of the CIL funding to Town and Parish Councils. Ackworth Parish Council has been given £90,549.25.

What We Can Fund

The Neighbourhood Fund be used to support the development of the neighbourhood through spending on:

The provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or Anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.

Projects must be capital projects and be valued at £5,000 or higher

All projects that are funded must meet at least one of three essential outcomes: New Infrastructure that supports the development of the area will be built; Existing infrastructure which supports the development of the area will be in better condition; The project directly addresses demands that development has placed on the area.

All projects must clearly demonstrate evidence of feasibility, deliverability and sustainability through the application and/or supporting documentation; Commence the same year funding is committed; Identify any long term revenue implications and propose clear strategies for managing these.

Projects must be able to be defined within one of the following CIL NF categories:

Roads and other transport facilities; Flood defences; Schools and other educational facilities; Medical facilities; Sport and recreational facilities; Parks and open spaces

What we cannot fund

Revenue expenses (e.g. rent, insurance costs, utilities, wages, expenses, gas, electrical, legionella safety testing) are ineligible.

Applications for traffic regulation orders or speed limit orders.

Small scale repairs or minor improvements to existing infrastructure (highways, roads, footpaths, playgrounds, parks etc.)

Minor individual items such as tools, equipment, software or similar.

Projects involving the purchase of individual items which together do not constitute a coherent project regardless of overall cost.

Projects with timescales of 5 years or over.

Councillors and Ackworth residents are asked to submit ideas for projects that fall within the criteria above. It will be helpful if some estimate of costs are included. The current deadline for submission is 4 September 2021

The selection of projects will then be decided on by a meeting of all Councillors on Monday 20 September

You can submit your idea for a project by email to info@ackworthparishcouncil.gov.uk. You must show your name and address.

Suggestions made to the Parish Council through the recent consultation can be found here

Report on CIL Monies received by year

2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Planning Consultation 2020

Changes to Current Planning System

The Parish Council received a request from National Association of Local Councils for a response to this.

Click here to see the response to part one sent on behalf of the Parish Council.

Click here to see the response to part two sent on behalf of the Parish Council.

Where the Parish Council has not responded to a question on the consultation it is because there was insufficient time to fully inform ourselves of the implications or it was a complex question and we lacked the expertise to answer the question in an informed way.

The Government is proposing to make radical changes to Existing Planning Legislation. Broadly speaking Local Development Plans will be replaced by a zonal system.

There will be 3 areas

GROWTH AREAS: where development will be regarded as Permissible in Principle.
RENEWABLE AREAS: where some development will be allowed such as in-fill in villages etc.
PROTECTED AREAS: green belt will be included in this new zone along with conservation areas, sites of scientific importance and protection for Historic Buildings.

Consultations Open for Residents

********************************************************* THESE CONSULTATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED *********************************************************

CONSULTATION FOR ACKWORTH ACKWORTH RESIDENTS - South Featherstone Link Road

Ackworth Parish Council is looking for your opinion regarding the proposed South Featherston Link Road, which is included in the current Wakefield District Local Plan 2036 consultation document.

A short online survey through "Survey Monkey" at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NZTFQD6 has been setup and we would appreciate your time in completing this.

This consultation is being advertised on Facebook, on our noticeboards throughout the village and a paper copy is included in the Parish Council newsletter which is due for distribution next week.

The deadline for submissions online and by post is 12 noon on Wednesday 30 December 2020.

If you have any questions about this consultation please telephone 01977 611583 or email info@ackworthparishcouncil.gov.uk

CONSULTATION FOR THE WHOLE WAKEFIELD DISTRICT - Publication Draft Local Plan - October 2020

Wakefield Council is currently consulting on the next phase as they prepare the Wakefield District Local Plan 2036. It sets out planning framework for sustainable development, inclusive economic growth and protecting the environment across the district over the next 15 years.

Changes have been made following a consultation in 2019. Have your say and share you views on the updated plan.

The consultation is open and has been extended until Thursday 31st December 2020. You can also see the key changes leaflet and online exhibition at Emerging Local Plan 2036