The Neighbourhood Planning Process

A Quick Guide to Neighbourhood Planning published by the Government can be found on this link.


Extract from the Department of Communities and Local Government Statement on Neighbourhood Plans:

 

An introduction to neighbourhood planning

What is it?

Neighbourhood planning is a new way for communities to decide the future of the places where they live and work.

They will be able to:

                choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built

                have their say on what those new buildings should look like

                grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead.

 

The Government introduced the right to do neighbourhood planning through the 2011 Localism Bill.

Why does it matter?

The planning system helps decide what gets built, where and when. It is essential for supporting economic growth, improving people’s quality of life, and protecting the natural environment.

In theory, planning has always supposed to give local communities a say in decisions that affect them. But in practice, communities have often found it hard to have a meaningful say. The Government wanted to put power back in the hands of local residents, business, councils and civic leaders.

Neighbourhood planning is optional, not compulsory. No-one has to do it if they don’t want to. But the Government thinks that lots of people will want to take the opportunity to influence the future of the place where they live or work.

How will it work?

There will be five key stages to neighbourhood planning.

 

Stage 1: Defining the neighbourhood

First, local people will need to decide how they want to work together.

In areas with a parish or town council, the parish or town council will take the lead on neighbourhood planning. They have long experience of working with and representing local communities. (Note: Bamburgh, Beadnell and N Sunderland parishes are in discussions with Northumberland County Council to have the area formally designated for the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan).

 

Stage 2: Preparing the plan

Next, local people will begin collecting their ideas together and drawing up their plans.

                With a neighbourhood plan, communities will be able to establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood. They will be able to say, for example, where new homes and offices should be built, and what they should look like. The neighbourhood plan will set a vision for the future. It can be detailed, or general, depending on what local people want

                 

It must follow some ground rules:

                They must generally be in line with local and national planning policies

                They must be in line with other laws

                If the local planning authority says that an area needs to grow, then communities cannot use neighbourhood planning to block the building of new homes and businesses. They can, however, use neighbourhood planning to influence the type, design, location and mix of new development.

 

Stage 3: Independent check

Once a neighbourhood plan or order has been prepared, an independent examiner will check that it meets the right basic standards.

If the plan or order doesn’t meet the right standards, the examiner will recommend changes. The planning authority will then need to consider the examiner’s views and decide whether to make those changes.

If the examiner recommends significant changes, then the parish, town council or neighbourhood forum may decide to consult the local community again before proceeding.

 

Stage 4: Community referendum

The local council will organise a referendum on any plan or order that meets the basic standards. This ensures that the community has the final say on whether a neighbourhood plan or order comes into force.

People living in the neighbourhood who are registered to vote in local elections will be entitled to vote in the referendum.

In some special cases - where, for example, the proposals put forward in a plan for one neighbourhood have significant implications for other people nearby - people from other neighbourhoods may be allowed to vote too.

If more than 50 per cent of people voting in the referendum support the plan or order, then the local planning authority must bring it into force.

Stage 5: Legal force

Once a neighbourhood plan is in force, it carries real legal weight. Decision-makers will be obliged, by law, to take what it says into account when they consider proposals for development in the neighbourhood.

A neighbourhood order will grant planning permission for development that complies with the order. Where people have made clear that they want development of a particular type, it will be easier for that development to go ahead.