MID Devon District Council has issued a “call for sites” to find out how much land there is that can be built on in the local area.

It comes amid government changes to the wider planning system.

Knowing how much available land there is in Mid Devon currently will help inform the council’s next “local plan”, a blueprint for development.

“We’re providing an opportunity for individuals and organisations to suggest sites that they think have the potential to be developed for a range of uses including housing and economic development, renewable energy and habitat creation,” said Councillor Steve Keable, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration.

“We’re particularly interested in hearing about small and medium-sized sites as these have wider benefits such as supporting small and medium enterprises, providing opportunities for self- and custom-build as well as community-led schemes.”

The development potential of sites put forward during the call will be assessed by council officers and a panel of representatives from a range of industries.

The conclusions will be published in a “Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment” (HELAA). This will form part of the evidence base for a new local plan for Mid Devon.

A site should only be suggested for housing development if it could accommodate at least five homes, or it measures at least 0.15 hectares, the council said.

A site should only be suggested for economic development if it measures at least 0.25 hectares or could provide at least 500 square metres of floor space. Sites must lie within the area covered by Mid Devon District Council.

To submit details of a site or sites for assessment in the HELAA, complete the online form by Friday, March 14: middevon.gov.uk/HELAA-CallForSites.

For more information, you can contact the Forward Planning team on 01884 255 255 or email [email protected].