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The Framework for Neighbourhood Plans. Richard Lee, Coordinator Just Space. Aims. Empower communities - residents and businesses – to take control of the future of their areas Flexible - the neighbourhood should decide what a neighbourhood plan contains
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The Framework for Neighbourhood Plans Richard Lee, Coordinator Just Space
Aims • Empower communities - residents and businesses – to take control of the future of their areas • Flexible - the neighbourhood should decide what a neighbourhood plan contains • Light touch – keep regulations to a minimum • New basis for partnership work with local authority (“duty to support”)
The formal process • Step 1 Defining the neighbourhood • Step 2 Preparing the Plan • Step 3 Examination • Step 4 Referendum • Step 5 Legal force
Setting up a Neighbourhood Forum • Minimum 21 members – may include businesses and councillors • Must contain a cross section of the local population • Local Authority designation • Application to Local Authority with name, written constitution, neighbourhood boundary, contact details
Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDOs) • Community right to grant planning permission for specified development • Can be linked to or independent of neighbourhood plan • Must have regard to protection and enhancement of listed buildings and conservation areas • Subject to referendum
Community Right to Build • Same as NDOs but relates to proposals by community organisation to develop land • Enable communities to deliver small scale, site specific development without the need for a planning application • Benefits of development remain within the community
Basic conditions for a neighbourhood plan • They must be appropriate having regard to national policy • They must be in general conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan for the local area • They must be compatible with EU obligations • They must be compatible with human rights requirements • They must contribute to sustainable development
Key provisions • Cross boundary neighbourhood areas • Only 1 plan per neighbourhood area • Only 1 forum per neighbourhood area • Business neighbourhoods and business voting
DCLG support • Up to £50 million until March 2015 • Providing £3 million in 2011 -2012 through 4 national organisations to support communities with advice on planning issues • Published guide to neighbourhood planning
Neighbourhood Plan Frontrunners • To learn lessons and identify good practice • 125 frontrunners nationally • 6 business led frontrunners • 5th wave of frontrunners currently being assessed • Each receiving £20,000 from government