Neighbourhood Plans: Protect Hayling's Future
HIRA highlighted this important Legislative tool at Friday's Public Meeting/AGM and provided A4 handouts for residents to seriously consider commencing such a plan for Hayling Island. Such a Plan could work to require future Developers to, for example, provide necessary infrastructure or eg cycle and pedestrian pathways that benefit the community. Once accepted it has legislative effect. Please contact us if you wish copies.
Status:
Came into effect in the 2011 Housing Act. Havant’s dedicated officer is jacqueline.boulter@havant.gov.uk
It has Statutory effect meaning that the Council must heed it when Planning, and it must conform with the National Planning Policy Framework and the Havant Borough Council Local Plan.
What does it do:
• To quote from the online planningguidance.communities.gov.uk for Neighbourhood Plans: “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. Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community where the ambition of the neighbourhood is aligned with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area.” Safe cycle routes, independent shops, flooding concerns can also be factored in because our local Councils do not have such remits.
“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, and any other material considerations.”
How can you bring it about:
Full details are available eg online, possibly by hard copy from the Council’s Planning team (we understand that some Local Authorities have had their Wards create Neighbourhood plans which must then be part of the Local Plan).
As a very brief overview, a Neighbourhood Forum is established, the boundaries of the Plan decided on, consultation with the public to identify areas of concern, and records kept of any such consultation. Draft policies will be drawn up, these go to public consultation and submitted to the Local Planning Authority where they are amended if necessary. Eventually an Inspector is appointed who checks that all consultation and agreement has been followed. Finally there is a Referendum, paid for by the Local Authority, to all voters to approve the Plan. Note that all public consultations are within the area initially designated for the Neighbourhood Plan.
This has been a nation wide opportunity that has been taken up by some; for example Emsworth is one local group currently undertaking it but it would be worth enquiring of other Authorities such as Chichester as apparently it required its own Wards to carry this out.
Issues to consider:
It takes time and commitment.
It needs some finance but there is professional support available.
The organization Locality is enormously helpful and pro active for this: www.locality.org.uk/projects/building-community and will take you through the processes, providing you with 1) Publications and general guidance
2) Finance and packages
Web address for grant information:
http://mycommunity.org.uk/programme/neighbourhood-planning/?_a=funding
