A starting point for the development of the Core Strategy was the organisation of a conference on 9th June 2005, which aimed to:

1. Identify the key issues within Craven District (outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park), to which the LDF could provide a response.
2. Achieve greater integration between the Craven Community Strategy and the LDF.
3. Form a starting point for the preparation of issues and alternative options for wider public consultation during the preparation of future strategic LDF policies.

Key interests from throughout the district, such as Parish and Town Councils, District Councillors, the Countryside Agency, Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, local developers, members of the Local Strategic Partnership etc were invited to the conference with the aim of identifying the issues facing the plan area which the new Local Development Framework, and particularly the Core Strategy document could provide a response to. 

The conference ran workshops based around the key themes of the Core Strategy:

1. Development Vision and Overall Land Use Strategy
2. Housing Strategy
3. Employment Strategy
4. Environment

The issues that emerged from the conference are available to view on this website (see download) or at Council offices during normal office hours.  These issues informed the Core Strategy “Issues and Options” papers, which underwent a period of consultation with the wider community in June and July 2006.