MALBOROUGH is holding a drop-in session for residents to see proposals, ask questions and make comments.

Malborough’s Neighbourhood Planning process began in 2013 and the forum has been working to ‘ensure that the needs, views and priorities of the local community are fully considered’ when assessing future planning applications and proposed developments within the area.

Gail Allen, member of the steering group for Malborough’s Neighbourhood Plan said: ‘The community of Malborough is growing – between 2001 and 2011 the population grew by more than 8 per cent.

‘In 20 years’ time, using this same rate of growth, Malborough will grow by a further 17 per cent. It is clear that some development of the parish is going to be needed.’

In 2015, Malborough called for potential development sites when landowners, developers and local community groups had the opportunity to identify the most suitable sites.

The local knowledge of people who live and work in Malborough was ‘crucial’ in helping to ensure that all potential, sustainable opportunities for development were considered.

In August 2015, a stakeholder panel was formed and the submitted sites were researched, visited and assessed. This was not, in itself, a process to allocate sites, but to identify options.

The Neighbourhood Plan Forum has discussed and deliberated, at length, about possible options and which sites, and why, are the most suitable for development.

On Monday, March 7, in All Saints Church, Malborough, from 4–8pm there is the opportunity for all interested parties to come to a drop in session where it will be possible to see what is being proposed, ask questions and make comments and suggestions. This is a consultation on the site options for housing.

There will be information and maps displayed and members of the forum will be present to talk through some of the issues.