New Rossendale Local Plan

Published: 15 June 2026

Last Updated: 15 June 2026

Rossendale Borough Council gives notice of the Scoping Consultation commencing on Monday 15 June 2026 and closing at midnight on Monday 27 July 2026.

During this period the Council is inviting representations on:

(i) such matters relevant to the preparation of the local plan as the authority considers appropriate, including what the plan should contain, and

(ii) how the Council should engage with consultees in the preparation of the local plan.

The following supporting information has been prepared: 

• a draft Engagement Strategy - thats sets out how we are proposing to engage with you during the plan-making process
• a draft Baseline Report - which reports on current trends and indicators about the Borough's local economy, environment and communities
• a draft Key Issues and SWOT Analysis - to understand the context of the area through its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which are likely to define the direction of growth during the plan period.

Representations can be made via the online survey form below.

Make a Comment on the Scoping Consultation 

Representations can also be sent by email to forwardplanning@rossendalebc.gov.uk or by post to Forward Planning Team, Rossendale Borough Council, The Business Centre, Futures Park, OL13 0BB. 

Representations must be received by the Council no later than midnight on Monday 27 July 2026.

Copies of the survey form and consultation documents will be made available at the Customer Service Hub at Futures Park and at local librairies during normal opening times.

Representations may be accompanied by a request to be notified when one or more of the following steps occur:

(i) the making available of proposed local plan content and evidence under regulation 23(1)(b) and regulation 48(1)(b) (consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence);

(ii)  the publication of observations or advice under section 15CA(5) of the Act;

(iii) the making available of the proposed local plan submission documents under regulation 27(1)(b) and regulation 52(1)(b) (consultation on the proposed local plan);

(iv) the submission of the proposed local plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination under section 15D(1) of the Act;  

(v) the making available of the matters specified in regulation 35(2) and regulation 60(2) in accordance with regulation 35(1)(a) (independent examination: local plans);

(vi) a decision of the examiner under section 15D(7) of the Act that the examination under that section is to be paused under section 15DA of the Act for further work to be carried out;

(vii) the publication under section 15DA(7) of the Act of the document and any evidence which is sent to the examiner under section 15DA(6);

(viii) the publication of the recommendations and reasons of the examiner received under section 15D or section 15DA of the Act, in accordance with section 15D(13) or section 15DA(10);

(ix) the adoption or approval of the local plan under Part 2 of the Act.

If you have any questions about the Scoping Consultation, please contact the Forward Planning Team at forwardplanning@rossendalebc.gov.uk or by phone on 01706 252418 / 252415 / 252412.