Neighbourhood Planning
Overview
Neighbourhood planning is a new right for communities to shape the development and growth of a local area through the production of a neighbourhood development plan or a neighbourhood development order.
It was recently introduced by government through the Localism Act 2011. The process will provide the opportunity for local communities to exercise greater influence through plans, policies and orders that meet the needs of the local community.
The government is particularly keen to promote the benefits of the neighbourhood planning process as a means of facilitating but not restricting growth.
Neighbourhood plans will become part of the development plan and will form the basis for determining planning applications in that area. A neighbourhood order enables the community to grant planning permission for the development it wishes to see.
The County Council is supportive of the neighbourhood planning process.
In most parts of Rutland where we have Parish or Town Councils they will be required to take the lead in neighbourhood planning on behalf of their communities. In areas without a parish council, new neighbourhood forums are able to take the lead.
Further guidance on neighbourhood planning published by government can be viewed at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/introductionneighbourplanning
The Neighbourhood Planning Process
Stage 1 is to set up the neighbourhood forum and the neighbourhood plan area.
Setting up the Forum involves deciding how people wish to work together. Except in non-parished areas, the lead organisation needs to be the Parish or Town Council. The Forum then decides the geographical area to be covered.
Stage 2 is to prepare a plan or order.
With the plan, the forum will need to decide what its overall vision for the area is, what the main issues are and what the options are to deal with them. The forum will then determine what the plan needs to say to deliver what local people want.
With the order, the forum can grant planning permission for new buildings they want to see go ahead.
Stage 3 is to undertake an independent check.
This is to ensure the plan or order meets the basic standards required
Stage 4 is the community referendum.
This ensures the local community has the final say on whether the plan or order comes into force.
Stage 5 is putting the final plan or order in force as a legal document.
RCC has drawn up a more detailed summary of the process and this can be viewed below:
File: Rutland County Council Processes
The actual regulations governing the process were issued by the Government in March 2012. These can be viewed at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/
The Council is already supporting an Uppingham based Neighbourhood Planning project which was granted ‘frontrunner’ status in July 2011, before the detailed regulations came into effect.
As at 1st April 2012 there are no further confirmed neighbourhood planning projects in the County.
First neighbourhood plan set for examination
The neighbourhood planning regime is due to pass an important milestone next week when the first of this new type of plan - for Dawlish in South Devon - reaches its examination stage. The Dawlish Parish Neighbourhood Plan will be examined by an independent inspector on 23 and 24 April. Further information can be viewed at:
First neighbourhood plan set for examination
Other Advisory Bodies
English Heritage (and partners) has recently developed a website entitled 'Placecheck' as a tool for community groups to use as part of the development of neighbourhood plans. This can be accessed at: http://www.placecheck.info/
They have also developed new pages on their website on neighbourhood planning as follows:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/get-involved/improving-your-neighbourhood/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/get-involved/improving-your-neighbourhood/find-out-about-your-local-area/
Frequently Asked Questions about neighbourhood planning
The Government has post a series of FAQ’s on the Communities and Local Government Web site. This can be accessed at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2099152.pdf
