THE Exmoor National Park Local Plan for the next 16 years was published for consultation on Monday (June 15).

It includes policies that will guide development and the use of land in Exmoor until 2031 and indicates what kind of development will be permitted in planning applications.

A draft Local Plan was consulted on in November 2013. Over 900 separate comments were received – the majority in support.

The Local Plan is now at the 'publication' draft stage which has taken into account comments, new national planning policy and updated evidence. Organisations, communities and individuals are being consulted.

Park authority chairman Andrea Davis said the high level of support had been extremely positive: "This Local Plan has been prepared through listening to local people from the very beginning, starting with the 'Your Future Exmoor' events.

"As the Plan reaches its final stages, this is the opportunity to comment before it is submitted and goes before an independent planning inspector."

Central to the Plan is meeting the National Park purpose of conserving and enhancing Exmoor's natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage while enabling local communities and businesses to thrive.

Most policy aims remain the same as in the 2013 draft Plan to:

l Conserve and enhance Exmoor by encouraging high quality design and sustainable construction, focusing development in existing settlements, making the best use of existing land and buildings and protecting the open countryside.

l Address the specific housing needs of Exmoor's communities through prioritising local needs affordable housing for those who live and/or work in the National Park, and through self/custom build housing, providing for housing for land based rural workers, and specialist 'housing for Exmoor's ageing population.

l Help communities by safeguarding community services and facilities such as shops, pubs, cafés or post offices and supporting provision of new facilities. Helping to adapt to climate change including flood risk and coastal change, and supporting small-scale renewable energy.

l Support the local economy by providing flexibility for business development, continuing support for land based businesses, farm diversification and home working, and providing more flexibility for hotels and guesthouses and new forms of camping;

l Improve accessibility and communications networks including mobile and broadband, whilst retaining the beauty of the National Park.

l Support appropriate recreation and tourism developments that are compatible with the quiet enjoyment of Exmoor's special qualities, providing for a range of holiday accommodation including reusing existing buildings for hotels, guesthouses, self-catering holiday lets and camping barns, allowing small-scale caravan and camping sites in appropriate locations, and alternative low-impact visitor accommodation.

l Encourage appropriate recreational development and protection of rights of way and access land, safeguarding former historic railway routes, and guiding the reinstatement of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.

Ms Davis added: "Having previously consulted on the Plan's content, it is now required that comments should be focused on technical aspects – whether the Local Plan meets legal requirements and is considered to be 'sound'.

"We are providing guidance with the consultation documents on what is meant by this. We would also like to hear whether consultees agree or disagree with the Plan or specific parts of it."

Any representations made on the Publication Plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State with the Local Plan and other relevant documents.

An independent inspector will hold an examination on the Plan in 2016 to make sure it is soundly prepared and meets legal requirements which will take into account public and other opinion. If this is successful, then the authority will formally adopt the Local Plan. The consultation runs until July 31.