What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
A Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led framework that guides the future development, regeneration, and conservation of a specific area over a 5 to 10 year period. It covers topics such as housing and development, schooling and amenities, environmental protection, transport and highways. It’s a legally binding document, part of the Local Development Plan, that outlines the community’s vision and planning policies for land use and development within that area. Neighbourhood plans are created by local communities, often through town or parish councils, and must align with national and local planning policies. A Neighbourhood Plan requires considerable consultation with everyone living and working in the Neighbourhood Plan area. The Neighbourhood Plan is not designed to prevent development, but is there to steer any development to be what is needed for the area.
Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Committee/Steering Group – Due to the work involved in producing a Neighbourhood Plan, a Steering Group was set up of Parish Councillors and Bilbrook Residents. Day-to-day tasks, such as organising consultation events, gathering information, editing drafts, and producing the final plan, have been delegated to this committee. The Steering Group is an advisory committee; therefore, it can only advise and not make decisions. The parish council still has responsibility for the plan and all final decisions made. The steering group is responsible for ensuring links between the parish council, the community and other professionals involved are maintained. The relationship between any group and the town or parish council must be transparent to the wider public, publishing relevant documents.
Steering Group Membership: The Steering Group reflected the character and diversity of the local population, with people from different places in the area and different sections of the community. All members of the steering group are aware that they are there to represent the community and should follow the Nolan Principles, which are: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, honesty, openness and leadership. The decisions made by the steering group are to be taken solely in terms of the public interest, and it is important that personal factors do not affect decisions.
Relevant skills and experience that have been useful to the steering group include:
– Project management;
– Familiarity with the planning system;
– Community engagement;
– Marketing, promotion and consultation;
– Writing, editorial, graphic design;
– Expertise in specific topic areas, e.g. housing, transport, the historic environment.
If you would like to know more about what a Neighbourhood Plan is, you can find out more on the website set up for parishes and town councils: What is Neighbourhood Planning?.