Neighbourhood planning gives town and parish councils or newly formed neighbourhood forums the opportunity to consult with the community and plan to shape the future of the places where they live and work. Neighbourhood planning allows communities to set planning policies through a neighbourhood development plan, or grant planning permission through a neighbourhood development order. A neighbourhood plan cannot be used to prevent development.
At the start of the neighbourhood planning process, the area which the community intend to produce a plan for has to be formally agreed. This is undertaken by an application to the local planning authority.
An emerging plan must undergo a number of stages prior to adoption:
- Public consultation
- Examination
- Referendum
- Adoption by the council (dependent on the referendum outcome)
The adopted neighbourhood plan would then form part of the authority’s development plan, meaning it will be a material consideration in determining planning applications, and can be used to direct development.
Emerging neighbourhood plans
Wyre Council as the local planning authority has received the following neighbourhood area applications:
Adopted neighbourhood plans
Wyre Council as the local planning authority has adopted the following neighbourhood plans:
Advice and support
There are various sources of advice and support to assist the neighbourhood planning process:
- Neighbourhood Planning Roadmap Guide
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Notes on neighbourhood planning
- How to shape where you live: a guide to neighbourhood planning
- Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulation 2012
- Neighbourhood Planning (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2015
- Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development management Procedure (Amendment) regulations 2016
- Locality
- Royal Town Planning Institute / Planning Aid
Financial support
The government has made up to £9,000 in grant support available for each community preparing a neighbourhood plan. For more complex plans or those that are allocating development sites, additional professional and financial support (up to a further £6,000) is available. Information on how to apply is available on the My Community website
Contact us
If you are interested in preparing a neighbourhood plan, or wish to get involved in an existing plan, the council can offer advice and assistance. Please contact us on:
Email: planning.policy@wyre.gov.uk
Telephone: 01253 887235