Neighbourhood planning
What is neighbourhood planning?
The Localism Act 2011 introduced new rights and powers for communities and individuals to enable them to get more involved in planning for their areas. Neighbourhood Planning will allow communities to come together through a Local Parish Council/Town Council or Neighbourhood Forum and say where they think new houses, businesses and shops should go and what they should look like.
Neighbourhood planning is a tool to promote sustainable growth and will not be able to prevent development in an area.
There are two main approaches to neighbourhood planning – neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders. The Localism Act also allows for community organisations to bring forward a ‘community right to build’ order which is a type of neighbourhood development order.
Please see the following documents for further information:
- Neighbourhood planning guidance
- Neighbourhood planning frequently asked questions
- Neighbourhood planning protocol
Neighbourhood planning process
In parished areas the parish or town council will be the qualifying body responsible for consulting on a neighbourhood plan and submitting it for examination. The parish or town council may produce the plan itself or it may oversee a steering group made up of community representatives and some parish or town councillors. Parish councils may also partner other parish councils to produce joint neighbourhood plans.
To find out more, see the following documents: