The Framework for Neighbourhood Plans

Richard Lee, Coordinator Just Space

Aims

• Empower communities - residents and businesses – to take control of the future of their areas

• Flexible - the neighbourhood should decide what a neighbourhood plan contains

• Light touch – keep regulations to a minimum• New basis for partnership work with local

authority (“duty to support”)

The formal process

• Step 1 Defining the neighbourhood• Step 2 Preparing the Plan • Step 3 Examination• Step 4 Referendum• Step 5 Legal force

Setting up a Neighbourhood Forum

• Minimum 21 members – may include businesses and councillors

• Must contain a cross section of the local population

• Local Authority designation• Application to Local Authority with name,

written constitution, neighbourhood boundary, contact details

Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDOs)

• Community right to grant planning permission for specified development

• Can be linked to or independent of neighbourhood plan

• Must have regard to protection and enhancement of listed buildings and conservation areas

• Subject to referendum

Community Right to Build

• Same as NDOs but relates to proposals by community organisation to develop land

• Enable communities to deliver small scale, site specific development without the need for a planning application

• Benefits of development remain within the community

Basic conditions for a neighbourhood plan

• They must be appropriate having regard to national policy

• They must be in general conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan for the local area

• They must be compatible with EU obligations• They must be compatible with human rights

requirements• They must contribute to sustainable development

Key provisions

• Cross boundary neighbourhood areas• Only 1 plan per neighbourhood area• Only 1 forum per neighbourhood area• Business neighbourhoods and business voting

DCLG support

• Up to £50 million until March 2015• Providing £3 million in 2011 -2012 through 4

national organisations to support communities with advice on planning issues

• Published guide to neighbourhood planning

Neighbourhood Plan Frontrunners

• To learn lessons and identify good practice• 125 frontrunners nationally• 6 business led frontrunners• 5th wave of frontrunners currently being

assessed• Each receiving £20,000 from government