Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is launching the second stage of the Our Places consultation will cover everything from jobs and housing, to transport and health
People across the six boroughs of the Liverpool city region are being urged to take part in a huge consultation exercise and help shape the future of the region.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram says the second stage of the Our Places consultation will cover everything from jobs and housing, to transport and health. It will help form the blueprint for the city region’s approach to planning and development for years to come.
In addition to an online survey, the Combined Authority will be conducting a series of consultation events with community groups to help ensure that local people’s views are central to the region’s priorities.
Responses will influence the Combined Authority’s first Spatial Development Strategy (SDS), which will set out a strategic framework for the development and use of land moving forward for at least 15 years. When complete, it is thought that the SDS will be the first in the country outside of London.
The first stage of the consultation focused on asking people what they wanted the plan to cover. It set out specifically to hear from communities whose voices tend to go unheard in the planning process and won a prestigious National Planning Award for its innovative approach to engagement.
Of 2,500 respondents, more than 42% were young people, more than half were from neighbourhoods among the most deprived 10% in the country, and 18% were from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
The second stage of the consultation will take the same approach and will concentrate on people’s vision for the Spatial Development Strategy, alongside its objectives in five key areas:
- Climate change and the environment.
- Health and wellbeing.
- Inclusive economy.
- Placemaking and communities.
- Social value.
It will also consult on a number of suggested policy areas, including air quality, active travel and employment skills. If you live in Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens or Halton then click here to make your contribution to the development of the SDS.
Mr Rotheram said: “When I first ran to be Mayor, it was because I was excited by the potential for more decisions to be taken locally and for local people to have a much bigger say about the future of their communities.
“With Our Places, we’re putting local people’s views front and centre when it comes to developing the region’s policies. Your views will help us make important decisions about the future of everything from jobs and transport, to health and housing right the way across our region.
“We might be in a difficult time at the moment, but your answers could help decide the direction of our region for years to come. I’m really keen to hear from you so, if you get a chance, please take a couple of minutes to fill out the survey.”