In short it’s means that our community can have a say in determining the type and scale of future development in our local area.
Under the terms of the new Localism Act, communities can now choose to produce a neighbourhood plan, which will contain policies to help shape and deliver new development in their areas. Because this document will become a statutory (legal) document they have to produce it in a certain way.
The Government has set out regulations (external link) on how this would be done.
Neighbourhood Plans can set out a vision for an area and should contain planning policies for the use and development of land. A Neighbourhood Plan should be developed to help guide development, rather than to prevent it. Policies should cover local issues rather than strategic issues. For example, a Plan could cover where new homes, shops or offices should go and what green spaces should be protected.
Plans should be developed in partnership with the Parish Council, local community groups, Local Authority, statutory consultees, local residents and local businesses. If the Plan is adopted by the South Gloucestershire Council it will become a statutory document that will be used when determining future planning applications.
Neighbourhood planning cannot be used to block the building of the homes and businesses considered to be necessary to meet the District’s Council’s current and future needs. It can, however, influence the type, design, location and mix of new development.
Neighbourhood Planning can involve any of the following:
- Neighbourhood Development Plan – establishes the vision and planning policies for the use and development of land in your neighbourhood.
- Neighbourhood Development Order – allows the community to grant planning permission for types of new developments you want to see go ahead.
- Community Right to Build Order – is a type of Neighbourhood Development Order which gives communities the power to develop, for instance, small-scale housing and other facilities that you want without the need to apply for planning permission.
All of these documents will be subject to an independent examination and a local referendum before they can be adopted.