Neighbourhood Plans

Dave ChetwynManaging Director, Urban Vision Enterprise CICPlanning Adviser, LocalityVice Chair, National Planning ForumChair, Historic Towns ForumPlanning Chair, Civic Voice

Introduction

Localism Act

Elements of Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Development Plans

Neighbourhood Development Orders

Community Right to Build Orders

Policy

} Planning Permission

Deciding to Produce a Neighbourhood Plan

Benefits of Neighbourhood Plans

Statutory status – greater influence over planning decisions.

Focus on neighbourhood rather than district

Can modify Local Plan policy.

Community-led.

Possible influence on other council activities.

Opportunity to specify which sites will be developed.

Begins a dialogue with a range of organisations.

Can encourage community projects and self-build initiatives.

Making the Decision

Project Plan

What, when, who, costs

Scope and Content

One policy Comprehensive set of policies

What difference do you want to make?

What in the Local Plan to you want to modify?

No point in just repeating what the Local Plan says.

Process

Process

Local Policy

Regional Spatial Strategy

Local Plan

Core Strategy

Supplementary Documents

Area Action Plans

Neighbourhood Development Plans

} Statutory Development Plan

The Basic Conditions

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.

In addition, NDOs and CRtBOs must have regard to the protection and enhancement of listed buildings and conservation areas.

The Basic Conditions

Getting Started

Neighbourhood Area

Determining the Area

What is a neighbourhood – criteria?

Publicise the process

Core neighbourhood / optional areas

Speak to people in different parts of the area

Contact local groups

Discuss with local authority

Identify clear physical boundaries

Consult

Possible Approaches

Resident association area(s)

High Street/local centre and environs

Housing estate

Village/settlement

University and environs

Town centre/City centre

Administrative boundaries

Conservation area

Business park

Getting the Area Designated

Submit:

•map of area•statement explaining the area•statement on body making application

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

(areas with no parish council)

5 Year duration

Requirements for a Neighbourhood Forum

Express purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of an area that consists of or includes the neighbourhood area concerned

Membership open to:People living in the areaPeople working in the area Elected members for the area

Minimum of 21 members from above groups

Reasonable steps to secure one of each.

Membership drawn from different places in the area.

Purpose reflects the character of the area in general terms.

Getting the Forum Designated

Submit:

•name of proposed neighbourhood forum;•written constitution;•name of neighbourhood area and map;•contact details one neighbourhood forum member;•statement on neighbourhood forum.

Democratic Legitimacy

Parish/Town Council

Elected Body

Election every 4 years on wide range of issues

Neighbourhood Forum

Self-appointed body

Need to reflect diversity, character and inclusivity of area

Community Engagement(Broad range of issues and detail)

Referendum(Yes/No on entire plan)

Community-led Plans

Qualifying Body

Partners Key stakeholders Volunteers

Wider community

Duty to Support

• Making data and maps available.• Identifying key local strategic policies from the

Local Plan.• Advising on relevant national policies/guidance• Sharing information on key contacts,

stakeholders, etc. • Making available venues and helping to arrange

community engagement activities.• Checking the plan prior to formal submission.• Providing professional/technical support, such as

assistance in laying out and illustrating a plan and writing plan policies.

• Providing members for neighbourhood forums or more informal working groups.

• Setting up a neighbourhood planning web page on the local authority’s website.

Evidence Base

Why is the Evidence Base Important?

Understanding the area

Identifying issues

Identifying need

Identifying trends

Identifying pressures

Informing policy and proposals

Making realistic assumptions

Things You Need to Know

Demographic – current and trends

Socio-economic data and trends

Environmental issues – flooding, air quality, etc.

Designations (heritage, landscape, wildlife, etc.)

Transport – services, capacity, usage

Infrastructure – capacity, fitness for purpose, need

Housing – stock (type, tenure, condition), need

Land uses, development sites

Building the Evidence Base

Proportionate approach

Don’t get overwhelmed!

Recent and robust

Use Local Plan evidence base

Seek help

Involve other organisations

Existing Evidence

The LDF, including core strategyOther local authority plans and strategiesSocio-economic data (e.g. census)Technical reports (land, flooding, etc).Transport studies Strategic Housing Market AssessmentsStrategic Housing Land Availability Assessments.Conservation area appraisals Buildings-at-risk surveys and Landscape character studies.Statutory list (listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments)Details of other environmental protection designations (TPOs, SSSIs, etc.)Plans from other public bodies or statutory undertakers.Community plans, parish plans and village design statement.Libraries, archives, web sites.

Neighbourhood-Level Evidence

EnvironmentalPlace-checkHeritage auditConservation Area AppraisalsLocal ListsUrban Design AnalysisOpen space survey & analysis

EconomicBusiness surveysVacancy / floorspace surveyAvailable sites surveyLand values

Social/CommunityHousing needs surveyHousing condition surveyAudit of community facilitiesBuilding for Life Assessment

InfrastructureTransport linkagesStakeholder engagement(statutory undertakers, schools, etc.)Transport capacity analysisTraffic / pedestrian flow surveys

Engaging with the Community

Why Community Engagement is Important

Statutory requirements (including in Localism Act)

Developing political consensus

Developing the evidence base (front loading)

Better informed outcomes (community know their own place best)

Realistic and deliverable plans/policies

Maintaining public confidence and support

Avoiding conflict, delay, cost

Democratic deficit

Statutory Requirement

Publicise the neighbourhood area (6 weeks)

Publicise the neighbourhood forum application (6 weeks)

Pre-submission consultation (6 weeks)

Submission of plan publicity (6 weeks)

Referendum

Profile and Awareness Raising

Local Partnerships

Third Sector – disabled, BME, aged, civic, environment, etc.

Private Sector – chamber of trade/commerce, etc.

Education – School council, university, etc.

Public sector – councils, health bodies, etc.

Consultation Comes First!

Capacity Building

Everyday Experience

Specialist Knowledge

Intensive Capacity Building

Minimal Capacity Building

Participation or Tokenism

Outcomes

Access to Specialist Support/Enabling

Relevant, Stimulating and Fun!

Being Realistic – Managing Expectations

Planning

Targeting

Accessible

Timing

Media

Location

Format

Unintimidating

Feedback

What Not to Do

The stand-in-the-library approach

The talking at people at a public meeting approach

The consultant-producing-options approach

The publish-and-defend approach

The boring-people-to-a-point-of-unconsciousness approach

The people-are-too-stupid approach

The outcomes-predetermined approach

Conclusions

Key Points

Statutory development plan – about the use and development of land.

Parish/community-led – you produce the plan

You decide on the scope of the plan

Need for a robust and proportionate evidence base and

Early and effective community engagement is essential

Must meet the Basic Conditions.