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What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

Under the terms of the new Localism Act, communities can now choose to produce a neighbourhood plan, which will contain policies to help shape and deliver new development in their areas. Because this document will become a statutory (legal) document they have to produce it in a certain way.

What are Neighbourhood Plans?

Neighbourhood Plans can set out a vision for an area and should contain planning policies for the use and development of land. A Neighbourhood Plan should be developed to help guide development, rather than to prevent it. Policies should cover local issues rather than strategic issues. For example, a Plan could cover where new homes, shops or offices should go and what green spaces should be protected.

 

Plans should be developed in partnership with the Parish Council, local community groups, Local Authority, statutory consultees, local residents and local business. They will need to be produced in conformity with Bassetlaw District Council’s Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document and national planning policy. If the Plan is adopted by the District Council it will become a statutory document that will be used when determining planning applications. 

 

Neighbourhood Plans can contain neighbourhood development Orders. These can be used to grant planning permission for specific type of development in a neighbourhood area. For example, a Plan could give permission to residents in the area to build household extensions of a certain size without needing to apply for planning permission.

 

Neighbourhood Plans can also contain Community Right to Build Orders, which allow neighbourhood groups bring forward certain developments, such as small-scale housing, a shop or community facilities, without the need to apply for planning permission.  

Who will pay for the Plan?

Not much is known about what funding will be available for Neighbourhood Plans. The Council will assist with certain aspects of the Plan’s production and examination. It will also help any community wanting to produce a plan to apply for funding. Funding may be available from central Government but confirmation of this will not be known until April 2012.

How to Prepare a Neighbourhood Plan

There is little national guidance on how to create a Neighbourhood Plan. If, however, you wish to produce a Neighbourhood Plan the following is advised.

Stage 1 Agreeing the Neighbourhood Area and Group carrying out the Neighbourhood Plan

Neighbourhood Area.

Parish Councils, or local groups in unparished areas, should submit their applications for the designation of a neighbourhood area to the Council. These should include:

 

• a plan and statement identifying the land to which the neighbourhood plan will relate;
• a statement explaining why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area;
• a statement explaining why the group is capable of being the ‘qualifying body’ to carry out the Neighbourhood Plan; and
• contact details for the group

 

The Council will, with the assistance of the proposing body, publicise the statement and invite members of the public to comment on the proposal. This consultation process will take place for six weeks.

Parish Councils and Neighbourhood Forums

Parish Councils will usually take the lead in progressing Neighbourhood Plans. Community groups can, however, also apply to the Council to become a Neighbourhood Forum. The Forum must contain a cross section of the population and comprise a minimum of 21 people. The application to the Council must contain:

 

• the name of the neighbourhood forum;
• a plan and statement identifying the land to which the neighbourhood plan relates;
• contact details of at least one member of the group;
• a copy of the written constitution of the proposed neighbourhood forum; and
• a statement explaining why the group is capable of being the ‘qualifying body’ to carry out the Neighbourhood Plan.
• Notice of accepted application

 

Once an application is received, from either a Parish Council or community group, Bassetlaw District Council will publish on its website a statement setting out:

 

• the name and coverage of the proposed neighbourhood forum;
• the contact details of at least one member of the organisation or body making the application;
• the date on which the application was received; and
• a statement that any other application for the relevant neighbourhood area, after the first application to be accepted, must be received by Bassetlaw District Council no later than 28 days after the date on which the above information was first published on their website in relation to the first application accepted.

Stage 2 Preparing and writing the Neighbourhood Plan

When writing the Neighbourhood Plan the following should be taken into consideration:

 

Writing the Plan

 

• The Plan must be in general conformity with the Bassetlaw District Council Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document and with National Guidance; 
• The Council’s Evidence Base, and evidence gathered by the Neighbourhood Planning group, should be used  to support Plan;
• Strong links must have been made with local residents, community groups and local business;
• Thorough consultation is essential;
• The Plan must reflect the views and concerns of local people;  
• Involving the District Council at the start of the process is essential.
• Publicising your Plan
• The draft version of the Plan must be publicised to people  who live, work or carry out business in the area;
• The Plan must be publicised for a minimum period of six-weeks to allow for responses;
• Statutory bodies must be consulted;

 

A draft must be submitted to the Council.

 

Supporting Information to be submitted with the Plan

 

• Title of the proposed plan;
• Plan or statement  showing the area covered;
• Consultation statement  detailing:
• who was consulted;
• how they were consulted;
• main issues/concerns  raised and describing how they were addressed.

Stage 3 Independent Check

Once a plan has been prepared, an independent examiner will check the plan and make sure it meets the right basic standards. The examiner will be appointed and paid for by the District Council with the consent of the Parish Council or Forum. The examiner must be independent of both the Parish/Forum and the District Council and have no interest in the land in the area.

 

After the check

 

The examiner will recommend one of the following:

 

• That the plan goes to referendum;
• That the plan be modified before a referendum;
• That the plan be refused.
• The Council will need to look at the examiner’s views and decide whether to make the changes proposed. The examiner’s report is not binding and the Council may wish to dismiss the examiner’s comments.

 

There may be a need to go back to the community and re-consult on the plan if significant changes are made to the plan by the examiner and the Council agrees them.

Stage 4 Community Referendum

The Council will organise and pay for a referendum on any Plan that meets the right standards. The referendum gives the wider community a chance to say whether the Plan should come into force or not. If more than 50% of the community vote in favour of the plan then it is adopted by the Council. Please note that ‘more than 50% of the community’ means 50% of those voting on the day. 

 

If you wish to discuss the possibility of developing a Neighbourhood Plan, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01909 535151 or write to Planning Policy Team, Bassetlaw District Council, Queen’s Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop, S80 2AH.