Planning for community assets

3 Sep 2009

Planning Aid Wales and the Conwy Rural Business and Community Assets project have joined forces to help community groups and community councils in the rural wards of Conwy give disused properties a new lease of life.

The Rural Business and Community Assets project is one of 31 projects operating in Conwy with funding from the Rural Development Plan. The main aim of the project is to identify disused buildings and land across rural Conwy which may have potential for redevelopment for business or community use. Local demand for buildings and land is also being recorded as well as details of potential developers in the community and business sectors. Where owners give their permission, their properties will be made known to anybody searching for development opportunities. The information collected will also be used to help meet future rural employment land requirements, as described in the Local Development Plan.

The project is working with local businesses and community groups for compiling the register of disused properties and potential developers as well as encouraging and supporting them in developing buildings or sites for their use.

One important aspect of developing a new use for a disused building or site is of course planning. Even if it eventually turns out that you don't need planning permission for what you want to do, you still need to think about it and check.

This is why Planning Aid Wales has been invited to run a training workshop for community groups and community councils in the area. Workshop participants will not only learn how to make a planning application, but also have an opportunity to think through those aspects of emerging development projects that are relevant to land use planning, sharing ideas and inspiring each other in the process.

The training event, to be held on Thursday, 24th September, 10am to 1pm, at Glasdir, Llanrwst, is open to any interested members of community groups and community councils within the rural wards of Conwy.

If you want to register for the workshop or learn more about the Conwy Rural Business and Community Assets project, please contact project officer Stuart Whitfield on 01492 643 154.

To find out more about Planning Aid Wales' training service, have a look at our training page.