Neighbourhood planning webinar.July 15th 2015

Emma Critchley

Webinar structure

Who we areNeighbourhood Planning

processUpdate on current situation

What can you achieve?Help available

Locality is the national network of ambitious and enterprising community-led organisations, working together to help neighbourhoods thrive

locality.org.uk @localitynews

locality.org.uk @localitynews

We represent over 500 (and counting) community-led organisations and 200 associate members across England

• We help people set up and run community owned and led organisations

• We support organisations to exchange ideas and best practice

• We work to influence government and others nationally and locally

@localitynewslocality.org.uk

What we do

We run major national programmes which support and empower local communities

locality.org.uk @localitynews

PollAre you

a)Thinking about writing a Neighbourhood plan/just want to find out more about the process.b)Have made the decision to pursue a Neighbourhood plan and are currently setting up a forum or identifying your neighbourhood area for designation.c)In the middle of writing a Neighbourhood plan, collecting evidence and identifying aimsd)Far along the process, draft plan in place and heading for examination.

THE PROCESS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvAHhrKNVt0

Ten things you need to know about Neighbourhood Planning

12345678910Part of Localis

m

Development & Use

One of three

elements

Not to stop

growth

Local referendu

m

Led by Town, Parish

or Forum

Area & Forum approved by LPA

Engage the

community

Based on

evidence

Submitted for

inspection

Community right to buildA Community Right to Build Order is a type of

Neighbourhood Development Order which gives community organisations the power to deliver development the local community want without the need to apply for planning permission. For example, communities may wish to build new affordable homes or new community facilities.

May be used as part of a NP or separately

designated neighbourhood area needs to approved by the local planning authority

must meet certain basic conditions

independently assessed

subject to a local referendum

BUILD

Lyn.Kesterton@locality.org.uk

The Numbers NPs at each stage

NPs Cumulative

Weekly Increase

CRtB NDO Total

Areas applied for designation 128 1547 0 1547

Areas designated 1114 1419 3 1419

Pre-submission consultation 138 305 1 5 3 313

Submitted for examination 68 167 0 5 2 174

Successfully passed examination 28 99 0 3 1 103

Not successful at examination 1 1 0 2 0 3

Succesful referendums 12 71 1 3 1 75

Made and now in law 58 59 1 3 1 63

http://www.neighbourhoodplanner.co.uk/map

What you can achieve

Choose where new housing should go?.......................

Can we…….

Yes. Thame Neighbourhood plan allocates 770 new homes to six sites dispersed around the town, departing from the local planning authority’s proposal to put almost all of the housing on one site on the edge of Thame. The plan also sets out what infrastructure (roads, schools, community facilities, etc.) are needed to make development acceptable

Manage new community projects ourselves?

manage new community projects ourselves?

YES.

Exeter St. James Forum produced a successful neighbourhood plan in 2013, then created a Community Trust to enable the projects identified in the plan to be turned into reality. Their first successful project was the regeneration of the Queen’s Crescent Gardens, and new projects include the development of sustainable homes,improving allotments and heritage walks.

regenerate an inner city neighbourhood?

YES. Heathfield Park’s neighbourhood plan contains a

range of policies specific to its inner city location in Wolverhampton. These include policies that will improve the quality of the public spaces in the area, and preserve the historic and heritage assets of the community.

You can also•Plan for more housing than the Local Authority•Grant planning permission for development you wish to see•Protect and enhance the high street•Decide how CIL money is spent•Choose where new industry and employment should go• Protect gaps between our towns and villages•Define and secure local heritage•Protect valuable green spaces

Interesting things that are happening.

A move from anti to pro developmentAreas are choosing ‘extra’housingGroups are growing in confidence and

capabilityStarting to tackle issues that fall

outside of ‘Planning’Strengthening relationships between

Local Autorities and groups.

How can we help?

Locality Programme of Support 2015-8

£25 million over 3 Years - Neighbourhood Planning and Community Right to Build

Grants and Technical Support

Last 2 years 360 groups directly supported, 1000 given grant

Current Programme: 550+ applications for NP and 100+ for Community Buildings awarded £1.8 million in grant in 3 months

GrantsAll groups eligible to apply for up to £8000Additional grants of £6k for groups with

complex issues.Some ideas of what groups might apply to

use the grant for - Developing a website

Training sessions for steering group members

Undertaking a household survey

Help with developing the evidence base

Engaging a planning expert

Technical Support Complex issues –

Neighbourhood Forums, Clusters of parishes, High growth areas, Population of 25,000+, Groups writing Neighbourhood Development orders, Deprived areas.

Technical Support – Housing assessment

Heritage and character assessment

Strategic environmental assessment

Habitat regulations assessment

Plan health check

Community Buildings Pre-feasibility grant

Between £1,000 and £10,000 to assess the viability of a project.Project must be a community buildings project pursuing a CRtBO or a housing project pursing either a CRtBO or planning permission

BUILD

Community Buildings Project Support Grant

Between £5,000 and £40,000 to progress a project to the submission of a CRtBO or (in the case of community-led housing only) a traditional planning permission.

BUILD

Submit an EOIApplication form overnight.Please read the guidance

The process

www.mycommunity.org.uk

Resources AvailableSocial Media

Twitter: #neighbourhoodplanning

Linkedin NP group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Neighbourhood-Planning-3741603/about

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nplanning/neighbourhood-plans

DCLG online interactive map: http://dclgexamples.mywebcommunity.org/npf/npanodes_osm.html

Resources AvailableMy Community Rightshttp://mycommunityrights.org.uk/

Community Knowledge Hub http://planning.communityknowledgehub.org.uk

DCLG Notes on Neighbourhood Planning https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/

notes-on-neighbourhood-planning

RTPI/PAE on-line resources and newsletter ‘Upfront’

http://www.rtpi.org.uk/planning-aid/planning-explained/online-resources/

One to one advice - Helpline Monday –Friday, 9.30am – 12.30pm. (local call rate)

0300 020 1864