Community Forum Briefing

1. Community Forum Briefing • Planning at the Local Level • The Localism Act 2011 and • Neighbourhood and Parish Planning • Jude Simpson- Community Project Officer

2. Community Forum Briefing • Welcome to a 30 minute Presentation and Panel session on: • The Localism Act: implications for Planning • Community-led planning at the Parish level…and within the South Downs National Park • Parish Plans and other local initiatives in the new era of Neighbourhood Development Planning • Funding for planning, growth and infrastructure

3. Community Forum Briefing • Objectives for this evening: • Provide a general introduction to the Localism Act and the Government’s intentions for planning at the neighbourhood level • Provide an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of East Hampshire District Council and the South Downs National Park • Consider how Parish and Town Councils will adapt to the new regime – what now for community-led planning at the Parish level within East Hampshire and the South Downs National Park ? • Consider future steps…

4. The Principles of Localism The ethos - Doing everything at the lowest possible level and only involving central government if absolutely necessary. What we have to do – Giving power to individuals, professionals, communities and local institutions The end result – A society where people, neighbourhoods and communities have more power and responsibility and use it to create better services and outcomes • Decentralisation Localism • Big Society

5. The Localism Act 2011 • Not just about Planning: • Community Rights • Aims to ensure that community organisations have a fair chance to bid to take over land or buildings that are important to them. • Housing • More decisions about housing to be taken locally, and make the system fairer and more effective. • Empowering cities and other local areas • Ministers to transfer public functions to local authorities in order to improve local accountability or promote economic growth • General power of competence • Local authorities given the legal capacity to work creatively to meet local needs, without having to wait for agreement from Central Government.

6. The Planning Context Ian Godfrey – Planning Policy Team Leader (EHDC)

7. Localism Act 2011 and Neighbourhood Planning • Enacted November 2011 – Regulations continue to come into force • A new beginning for the Council and SDNPA to work collaboratively with communities • Context of national growth agenda and reducing Council resources • Must take forward the quantum and distribution of development identified in Joint Core Strategy (The Local Plan)

8. Where we are now: Joint Core Strategy (Local Plan) • Timetable • Pre-Submission Publication completed 16 March 2012 • Submission 25 May 2012 • Examination August 2012 • Inspector’s Report November 2012 • Adoption End December 2012 • Provides the framework for the quantum and distribution of development up to 2028.

9. Where we are heading: Allocations and Development Management Document (Local Plan: Part 2) • To be progressed during 2013. • Context set by Joint Core Strategy and shaped by National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). • Allocates specific land for development and more detailed policies. • Collaboration with local communities. • We need to know which communities want to plan for themselves.

10. Where we are now: Other Types of Plans • Parish Plans • Not part of the formal Development Plan • Outlines future community development • Sound evidence of local issues • Clanfield case study • Village Design Statements • Landscape Character Assessments

11. Neighbourhood Planning:the new tools • Neighbourhood Development Plans • Communities can write a plan which, if passed, becomes part of the statutory planning framework for the area • Neighbourhood Development Orders • Communities can agree to approve a particular development or type of development within a particular area without the need for planning permission • Community Right to Build • Communities will be able to develop land subject to proposal passing examination and referendum (via an NDO)

12. Different types of Neighbourhood Plans emerging • Neighbourhood Development • Order (Minor development ) • Residential – minor development • (e.g. house extensions, windows) • Town centre - change of use / • minor changes signage • Business park / industrial estate • minor development • Mini Local Plan • Comprehensive coverage • of policy issues. • Allocate development sites for • wide range of uses • Policy and Allocation Plans • Neighbourhood plans covering • a narrower range of issues. • Often theme specific • Allocate development sites • for narrow range of uses. • Policy Plans • Neighbourhood plans covering • a broad range of policy issues. • No site allocations. • Similar to Parish Plans. • Augment Local Plan policy • Single Policy Document • Neighbourhood Plan covering • a single policy issue (e.g. protection • of green space) • Neighbourhood Development • Order (Site specific) • Development of a particular site • (e.g. small housing scheme under • CRtB)

13. Neighbourhood Plans • Must include Local Plan housing targets as a minimum - may propose more - i.e. shaping not stopping development • Independent examination by examiner, and Plan must conform with: • - strategic content of Local Plan • - National Planning Policy Framework • - neighbouring neighbourhood plans • Local referendum – Simple >50% of those voting are in favour of it, then, local planning authority must adopt Neighbourhood Plan

14. A community applies for a neighbourhood area to be designated – Parish in EHDC Community works up details of plan The local planning authority (LPA) can advise Consult statutory consultees as appropriate LPA to advise on conformity with Local Plan Submit plan to the local authority Independent Examination LPA to arrange Local authority checks proposals LPA to adopt plan as statutory planning document Council to arrange. A simple majority is required Community referendum Make a plan or order

15. CLG ‘Front runners’ - Lessons Major issues - Housing – how much and where, town centres, regeneration, infrastructure/transport and rural isolation - Strategic issues beyond the scope of local neighbourhood plans Clarity on why you are doing the Plan & what it will deliver Strong leadership, governance and enthusiasm

16. Neighbourhood Plans - Budget • Localism Act places a duty on Local Planning Authority (LPA) to provide advice and assistance to qualifying bodies in developing Neighbourhood Plans/orders. • No requirement for direct LPA financial assistance – Frontrunner funds or Parishes to pay? • Local Planning Authority (EHDC/SDNPA) pay for Examination – Budgets! • Council pays for referendum – Budgets! • Detail on funding arrangements still emerging – Government is giving some support.

17. Which is the right plan? • They are all about ‘planning’ for the future • Neighbourhood Plans and Design Statements are part of Development Plan – used to determine planning applications – Parish Plan is not • Local Planning Authorities will continue to work with communities to plan for development • Understand the issues before deciding • Which plan can achieve what you want – needs to be resourced • Toolkit being prepared to help decide best approach

18. Case Study: Petersfield Petersfield one of 3 successful Frontrunner communities in the National Park (also Fernhurst and Findon in West Sussex) Will receive £20,000 towards neighbourhood planning in the parish Allows the Town Council to begin neighbourhood planning and test how it works.

19. Case Study: Petersfield Long history of community based planning supported by PTC, EHDC and others. Petersfield Tomorrow initiative resulted in... Market Town health check Identified strengths and weaknesses under 4 themes:- Work and Business, Surroundings, Getting About and Providing for the Community. Led to a series of projects to tackle issues. Town Design Statement adopted by EHDC – identifies what makes Petersfield distinctive and characteristics of different areas.

20. Case Study: Petersfield The Petersfield Plan Provides much of the groundwork for neighbourhood planning. Looks at employment, housing and retail opportunities and how this relates to community needs and environmental impacts. Joint Core Strategy East Hampshire District Local Plan: part of thestatutory planning framework “Will retain its current role as a main centre for facilities and services…constraints on Petersfield’s growth includes views from and to the surrounding hills and the need for any growth to support National Park purposes and its duty towards the local community (where this does not conflict with its purposes).”

21. Case Study: Petersfield • Up to 2028, Petersfield required to provide an additional 330 dwellings beyond existing commitments. • Neighbourhood Plan will need to identify sites. Look at how any • negative impacts can be avoided or moderated. • Joint Core Strategy provides headlines on employment, retail, transport, leisure, landscape and biodiversity: neighbourhood plan can add further detail. • Town Council will be hosting launch event for Neighbourhood Plan shortly.

22. Funding infrastructure at the neighbourhood level • The Government’s aim is to encourage • communities to welcome new development, with • incentives on offer: • Community Right to Build • New Homes Bonus • Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) • So what is CIL ?

23. Funding infrastructure at the neighbourhood level -CIL • A charge ( £ per Sq Metre - tariff) on development to fund infrastructure • Came into force in 2010; could be adopted in East Hants by mid 2013, and in National Park by 2014 • The charge should not put at risk the economic viability of the area (as tested at examination). • S106s will continue, but in a more limited form. • EHDC and the SDNPA have to work with infrastructure providers & communities to decide what infrastructure is required and how best to spend CIL revenue • Pro-growth Neighbourhood Plans could provide a sound platform for the identification of infrastructure and as basis for spending CIL funds