Neighbourhood planning

The Localism Act 2011 enables communities to prepare a neighbourhood development plan (NDP) for a defined area, known as the neighbourhood area.

How are these done?

The Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (amended 2015 and 2016) provide some of the legal requirements for preparing an NDP.

An NDP is prepared by a qualifying body on behalf of its local community and sets out local planning policies in relation to the designated neighbourhood area. It has to meet certain basic conditions including taking account of national policy and being in general conformity with the strategic policies within the development plan for the area. These are tested through independent examination and then voted upon in a local referendum as to whether or not the NDP should be formally adopted.

Once an NDP is 'made' (adopted), it will form part of our development plan and will be used in future planning decisions for that neighbourhood area.

Our current plans

Detailed information on each of the neighbourhood plans which are moving forward within the borough are available on our website.

You can also download a map of the neighbourhood plans currently in progress:
  

Download the map

Roles and responsibilities

Information on the roles and responsibilities of ourselves and the qualifying body and support that is available can also be found on our planning policy pages.