Neighbourhood Plans

Dave ChetwynManaging Director, Urban Vision Enterprise CIC

Planning Adviser, Locality

Chair, Historic Towns Forum

Vice Chair, National Planning Forum

Why do we have Planning?

Why is Planning Needed?

Address market failure

Take account of externalities

Allow local communities to have their say

Allow Government to specify social,

economic & environmental priorities

Mechanism for mediating interests

Protect natural & built heritage

Ensure adequate infrastructure is

provided

Certainty and investor confidence.

Overview of Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Development Plans

Neighbourhood Development Orders

Community Right to Build Orders

Policy

} Planning Permission

Planning Policy

National Policy and Guidance

Local Plans

Core Strategy

Supplementary Documents

Strategic Site Allocations

Neighbourhood Development Plans

Statutory Development Plan*

*In Greater London, there is also the London Plan

Scope of Neighbourhood Plans

Economic

Environmental

Social

Benefits of Neighbourhood Plans

Statutory status – greater influence over planning

decisions.

Focus on neighbourhood rather than district

Can modify Local Plan policy (non-strategic).

More community-led approach.

Opportunity to specify which sites will be developed.

Begins a dialogue with the local authority and a range

of other organisations.

Can encourage community projects and self-build

initiatives.

Things to Think About

The time and energy commitment is huge!

You are planning for the whole community –

wide engagement is essential.

Must be evidence based (including an

assessment of need).

It will involve tough decisions.

Cost – project planning will help to estimate

financial cost.

Neighbourhood planning is about producing a

positive strategy for growth – not preventing

development.

Housing in neighbourhood Plans

Housing Need

Community Questionnaire

Demographic trends

Economic trends

What is happening in the wider area

Sustainability considerations

Infrastructure

Gaps in housing provision

Student housing separate

Housing Growth Strategy and Policies

Growth Strategy:

Level of growth

Site allocations

Development envelope(s)

Policies (e.g. number per site)

Policies:

Housing design

Housing standards

House types

Affordable housing

Home working

Community facilities

Transport

Heritage

Building for Life 12

1. Connections

2. Facilities & Services

3. Public Transport

4. Meeting local housing requirements

5. Character

6. Working with the site and context

7. Creating well defined streets and spaces

8. Easy to find your way around

9. Streets for all

10.Car parking

11.Public and private spaces

12.External storage and amenity space

Process

Neighbourhood Area

Business Areas

Designated by local authority

Area has to be wholly or

predominantly business in nature

Allows business people to vote in

referendum

Qualifying Bodies

Town or Parish Council Neighbourhood Forum

or

Why Community Engagement is Important

Statutory requirements

Political consensus

Evidence base (front loading)

Better informed outcomes

Realistic and deliverable plans

Maintaining public confidence

Avoiding conflict, delay, cost

Democratic deficit

What do we Mean by the Community?

Why is the Evidence Base Important?

Understanding the area

Identifying issues

Identifying need

Identifying trends

Identifying pressures

Informing policy and proposals

Making realistic assumptions

Plan Template

Introduction – purpose, status, monitoring, review, time period

Vision / aims

Summary of process – evidence base, community engagement, etc.

Development management - planning policy & site allocations

Area – general characteristics and issues

Writing the Plan

Relate policies and proposals to the plan’s vision and aims

Concise is often best

Be clear which parts form the planning policies

Consider whether the policies will deliver the Community’s aspirations

Get the policies checked if possible

Use clear, plain, unambiguous language

Avoid over-complex language and jargon

Discern between must and should

Be Specific

Layouts that create clear separation between public and private space,

minimising need for walling/fencing adjacent to highway.

Development to face and provide active frontages and enclosure to

streets and spaces.

Pedestrian safety and convenience – links to surrounding footpaths,

public spaces overlooked, shared surfaces, use of home zones, etc.

Parking to be carefully integrated into the design, so that it does not

dominate public spaces.

Space for refuse bins, recycling bins, etc.

Each dwelling to have storage space for cycles.

Growth Strategy and Site Allocations

Clear methodology

Site selection criteria

Transparent process

Pre-Submission Consultaton

Submitting the Plan

Map of neighbourhood area

Plan proposal

Consultation Statement

Basic Conditions Statement

Independent Examination

Undertaken by an experienced and

qualified person …

… appointed by local planning authority -

agreed by parish/town council or

neighbourhood forum

Presumption for written representations …

… but can be a hearing too.

Have appropriate regard to national policy.

Contribute to the achievement of sustainable

development.

Be in general conformity with the strategic

policies in the development plan for the local

area.

Be compatible with EU obligations and

Human Rights.

In addition, NDOs and CRtBOs must have

regard to the protection and enhancement of

listed buildings and conservation areas.

The Basic Conditions

Referendum to

include people

beyond the

boundary of the

neighbourhood

area

Possible Recommendations

Proceed to the

Referendum

Modifications

before

proceeding to

the Referendum

Don’t proceed to

the Referendum

Modifications

Examiner’s report NOT binding

Local planning authority amends plan

Can only amend to meet basic conditions

Community can withdraw plan

Referendum

28 days notice required.

Separate business ballot if business area.

More than 50% ‘Yes’ vote required.

Summary

Key Points

Statutory development plan – use and development of land.

Housing often a key issue: type, design, standards, sites, affordability,

etc.

Foundations – robust community engagement and evidence base.

Policy should be clear, concise and unambiguous.

Must meet the Basic Conditions.

More than 50% vote required in referendum.

A neighbourhood plan is a means to an end … think about delivery.