TrustNews Sep 21
Neighbourhood Planning - the way forward
Neighbourhood plans can be an effective tool to ensure that communities have a say in the vision for their town. The opportunity for local communities to prepare neighbourhood plans was introduced by the Government some twelve years ago.
As the Government says, "Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. They are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead."
"Unlike the parish, village or town plans that communities may have prepared, a neighbourhood plan forms part of the development plan and sits alongside the local plan prepared by the local planning authority. Decisions on planning applications will be made using both the local plan and the neighbourhood plan." (www.gov.uk/guidance/neighbourhood-planning).
As of 2020, over 2,500 neighbourhood plans have been adopted or are in progress. In Hampshire, several councils have embraced this new tool with enthusiasm. Test Valley has 19 adopted plans, including plans for Andover and Romsey. Basingstoke has 11 adopted plans with six more in progress. East Hampshire has four adopted (including a plan for Alton) and four in progress. Winchester District has only one (Denmead).
The preparation of neighbourhood plans involves those who live and work in a town or other community and is led by a forum of not less than 21 people, with guidance from planning professionals.
Lewes, a town of around 36,000 people, a similar population to Winchester, and with some common characteristics, adopted its neighbourhood plan in 2019.
Richard Eastham from Feria Urbanism, the consultancy that provided technical support for Lewes's plan, is the guest speaker at the Trust's AGM in October (see details). His talk will outline how Lewes's neighbourhood plan process was organised, managed and brought to a successful conclusion, with the plan endorsed by a large majority of the community.
