MEMBERS of the Salcombe Neighbourhood Development Plan housing working group will be distributing copies of a housing needs survey, to Salcombe households on the electoral roll, during the week Friday, April 4 to Tuesday, April 8.

The purpose of the survey is to understand the housing needs of the town. The information given in the survey will be analysed by South Hams Council, which has a duty of confidentiality regarding any information they handle.

All information and responses provided in the survey will be totally confidential and will be protected under the Data Protection Act.

The analysed data will be used, together with the findings of the Community Consultation - to be held in early summer 2016 - as evidence for the drafting of the Salcombe Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The purpose of the neighbourhood development plan is to ensure that we, as a town, can have some say in how our community develops.

If passed at a referendum, the plan will then be adopted by the local planning authority.  The neighbourhood plan will then be part of the statutory development plan for the area. This statutory status gives neighbourhood plans far more weight than some other local documents, such as parish plans, community plans and village design statements.

It will ensure that the needs, views and priorities of the local community are considered properly when assessing future planning applications and proposed developments within the area.

More than 100 plans have now been adopted across the UK and many neighbourhoods are recognising that these plans can have a real impact.

There are examples - such as Roseland in Cornwall - where the plans, once adopted, can influence what is and isn’t built within the community.

If you, or any member of your family, want your present or future needs to be considered then it is really important that you complete the survey.

You will receive a paper copy of the survey during the week Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 8 and this document will also have a link for you to complete the survey online if you would prefer. Either way, if you want your voice to count and your needs to be considered, local residents are urged to complete the survey.