Welcome to the second installment of Planning’s Neighbourhood Watch. Lots has happened in the last three weeks. The Upper Eden neighbourhood plan was adopted by Eden District Council in Cumbria as part of its development plan, making it the first neighbourhood plan in the country that passed an examination and referendum to cross the finishing line. The consultant who drew up the plan, Tom Woof, said afterwards that the adoption was “the end of the beginning of this neighbourhood plan”. He said: “The test now is the decisions that are made as a result of the plan. To my knowledge, there are three applications already submitted with these policies in mind, and; many more to follow.” Woof said he expected “an upturn in building projects here over the next few years” that would help “alleviate some of the most pressing housing problems locally”.
Another neighbourhood plan, drawn up by Fish Quay neighbourhood forum in Tyneside, was provisionally adopted by North Tyneside Council just days before Upper Eden. However, the Fish Quay plan took a different route. It was adopted by the council as a supplementary planning document (SPD) and not in accordance with the government’s neighbourhood planning regulations.
A further milestone could be reached tomorrow when two more neighbourhood plans are subject to referendums. Plans for Thame in Oxfordshire and Exeter St James will be put to the vote – they’ll no doubt be hoping for the resounding ‘yes’ that Upper Eden received in March. The Thame plan, prepared by Thame Town Council, is the first neighbourhood plan to reach this stage that includes housing allocations. Make sure you keep an eye on Planning Resource on Friday for the results and reactions.
In other news, communities drawing up neighbourhood plans can apply for new government grants and support from today (May 1). The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) neighbourhood planning support scheme is led by umbrella group Locality and details can be found here. Community groups can bid for up to £7,000 each to contribute to their plan preparation costs. The programme also offers support and advice.
Some interesting research by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs looking at the progress of neighbourhood planning frontrunners in rural areas has been published here. It examines a number of case studies and comes up with several tips for success for those communities interested. One recommendation is to focus on a small number of issues in the emerging plan. The report also says it is important to develop a good relationship with the local authority.
It’s been a busy month in London, where neighbourhood planning interest is growing steadily. The London Borough of Camden has received an application from the Somers Town Neighbourhood Planning Project to draw up a plan and has designated Kentish Town as a neighbourhood planning area. Hounslow, in west London, has received an application from the Butts Farm Working Group to draw up a plan, while in Tower Hamlets, community group Network Wapping has also applied. Outside the capital, Guildford Borough Council has approved Effingham Parish Council’s application to become a neighbourhood planning area. This has all been added to Planning’s interactive neighbourhood planning map and table, along with some other updates.
To view the interactive map of neighbourhood planning activity in England, click here.
Please let us know your neighbourhood planning news by commenting below or emailing: john.geoghegan@haymarket.com