Neighbourhood planning: developing neighbourhoods, not paperwork 13 th March 2013www.pas.gov.uk

Workshop Aim To help members understand what is a good Neighbourhood Planning Process (NPP) and the role councillors can play. The workshop will cover: Introduction to the NPP The role of the LPA Your role as elected members/skills necessary to support your Forum/Parish Council Common themes emerging from the front runners What you can do to help to develop better NP

Workshop Method To share and disseminate positive experiences, thoughts and opinions on neighbourhood planning; and to document emerging best practice. To record and feed through views, needs and facts from the breakout discussions and Q&A sessions in order to inform an update to the PAS Neighbourhood Planning Councillor Guidance. This if the first of four NP Councillor workshops.

Agenda (morning) 10:30Introductions 10:40Session 1: Introduction to the Neighbourhood Planning Process 11:10Panel Discussion Q&A 11:30Session 2: Your role as an elected member in Neighbourhood Planning 11:45Workshop Discussion 1 – Challenges and Opportunities 12:15Lunch

Agenda (afternoon) 13:00Session 3: Dispatches from the front line 13:15Case Study – Bankside Neighbourhood Forum (Tim Wood, Chair) 13:35Common themes front runners 14:15Tea break 14:30 Session 4: What you can do to help your neighbourhoods 14:45Workshop Discussion 2 15:15 Conclusions, summing up and final Q&A

Session 1: Introduction to the Neighbourhood Planning process

Setting the context: Localism Act, Neighbourhood Planning (NP) regulations, community rights, CIL Key stages of NP The role of the Local Planning Authority (LPA) The role of the neighbourhood Forum (NF) Support and funding Q&A

Context Localism Act 2011 NP regulations 2012 Community rights –Community Right to Build –Community Right to Bid –Community Right to Challenge Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Development Plans Neighbourhood Development Orders

Neighbourhood planning Ultimate aim is to give communities more power over development and shift attitudes to local growth Localism Act introduced new right for communities to draw up a ‘neighbourhood plan (NP)’ Provided NP is in line with national planning policy, with the strategic vision for the wider area set by the LPA, and with other legal requirements, local people will be able to vote on it in a referendum; Local authority required to bring NP into force if approved by a majority

Neighbourhood planning ‘givens’ Neighbourhood led Light-touch but robust Flexible enough to inspire innovation and creativity Pro-growth - exploring ways of enabling community supported development Taking lead from the local plan which sets the strategic context New, more equal? basis for partnership work with local authority

Neighbourhood planning characteristics Community-led vision, framework and set of proposals for guiding future development and growth in a neighbourhood or parish Plan period similar to local plan Stimulates and focuses local conversation about the medium to long term future of a community Often a lot more than just planning!

What can a NP do? A Neighbourhood Plan can propose: 1.More but not less development than in LP 2.Pace of development across plan period 3.Location/type/quantum of development, except for strategic sites 4.Precise contribution of development towards community infrastructure 5.Neighbourhood Standards for sustainability (social, environmental and economic issues), good design, use of materials, physical access Where these don’t compromise standards in local plan or NPPF!

Related or Parallel Opportunities Neighbourhood Development Orders –Can be used to grant planning permission for certain types of development within a specified area without a formal planning application –Must have regard to listed buildings and conservation areas

Related or Parallel Opportunities Community Right to Build –Type of Neighbourhood Development Order allowing people to propose small scale and specific development in their area without going through traditional planning route. –Can be developed independently of a NP –Homes, shops, businesses, affordable housing, community facilities –HCA led funding support for feasibility –Financial benefit is retained by community

Differences between ‘traditional’ and neighbourhood planning Councillors are accustomed to raising issues with case officers or making representations on behalf of their residents on local plans. By involving themselves in a NP group it allows them to be more pro-active when it comes to planning their area. NDO, Community Right to Build Order and NPs do not have to go through the planning committee

Introduction to key stages of neighbourhood planning Source: Neighbourhood Plans Roadmap Guide. Locality Getting established Preparing the plan Bringing the plan into force Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

Key steps in the process Forming qualifying body Constitution, boundary line and submitting LPA Developing vision, objectives Consider challenges and opportunities Stage 1 Source: URS 12 steps to a NP

Stage 1: Getting Established Approval for a neighbourhood area (parish or town council or neighbourhood forum will need to submit details to the LPA). Such details include the following: –a map (proposed neighbourhood area) –a statement (why the area is appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area) –a statement (capability of the parish or town council or prospective neighbourhood forum to be be a qualifying body)

Stage 1: Getting Established LPA designate the NP area taking into account case made by a forum and representations –Role of strategic sites and influence of significant landowners within proposed boundary Case law - Daws Hill, High Wycombe Where do you live evidence (north London) –Adopting a (model) constitution and showing capacity & structure –a statement (in the case of non- parished areas) as to why a prospective neighbourhood forum is suitable to be a qualifying body

Stage 1: Getting Organised Volunteers and organisational recruitment –Identifying themes or project groups and potential leaders Building or populating a website Applying for help nationally & locally –DCLG Support programme Developing initial contact and relationship with LPA officers Agreeing a schedule of meetings Agreeing a programme Developing an engagement strategy

Key steps in the process Understanding existing evidence and gaps Mobilise technical support Commission further work Explore Options Stage 2 Source: URS 12 steps to a NP

Stage 2: Preparing the Plan Setting the Scope and Content – early plan template Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation Building the Evidence Base – aspiration & sub-local evidence around housing need, open space, transport etc Tapping LPA’s ‘duty to support’ NP constructively “Effective community engagement and a robust evidence base are the pillars on which a good Neighbourhood Plan will be built.” (Locality NP Roadmap)

The role of the Local Planning Authority ‘Duty to support’ Extent of advice/assistance will be different in each area. It might include: Sharing evidence/information on planning issues Helping with consultation events Providing advice on assessments/evidence Providing advice on national/local plan policies with which the NP or Neighbourhood Development Order will need to fit Helping communities communicate with external partners

The role of the Local Planning Authority ‘There is more detail on this available in the neighbourhood planning roadmap produced by Locality available at: Roadmap.pdf

Preparing the Plan: scope and content

Stage 2: Preparing the Plan (Importance of stakeholder engagement)

Stage 2: Preparing the evidence base ‘Proportionality’ ‘Light-touch’ Can use LPA evidence. –Review existing evidence –Identify additional evidence/data gaps Understand socio-economic and environmental issues, needs, trends and pressures SEA & Oikos type analysis If the NP is in line with LP strategic objectives it will broadly be in line with existing SA/other evidence

Stage 2: Preparing the NP for examination What are the ‘Basic conditions’ for Neighbourhood Plans and orders? They must: –have appropriate regard to national policy –contribute to the achievement of sustainable development –be in general conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan for the local area –be compatible with human rights requirements –be compatible with EU obligations

Key steps in the process Draft Plan and examination ReferendumPlan is ‘Made’Delivery plan Stage 3 Source: URS 12 steps to a NP

Stage 3: Bringing the Plan into Force Agreeing NP draft is ready for examination Pre-submission consultation by NP group (6 weeks) Processing feedback and agreeing final draft Submission to the LPA Independent examination Modifications (if necessary) Referendum Council then agree to ‘make’ the plan Implementation and Delivery

Progress so far Over 200 NP groups active Upper Eden, referendum passed 7 th March – 90% voted ‘yes’ on a 33.7% turn-out Thame and St James’ both now recommended by Inspector to proceed to referendum

Plan Implementation - Funding Qualifying Bodies can claim a percentage of money from the Community Infrastructure Levy This is known as the ‘meaningful proportion’ Adopting a NP can capture a greater amount of this funding for Parishes and Neighbourhood Forums. CIL can be used as match funding for lottery applications, community right to build feasibility applications and other funding bids LPAs also receive New Homes Bonus for new housing, this could potentially be spent on NP implementation More information on funding is available from sources such as PAS, Locality and DCLG

Plan Implementation - Funding Parish council Neighbourhood Plan = 25% uncapped, paid to Parish Parish council Neighbourhood Plan X = 15% capped at £100 / dwelling, paid to Parish Parish council X Neighbourhood Plan = 25% uncapped, local authority consults with community Parish council X Neighbourhood Plan X = 15% capped at £100 / dwelling, local authority consults with community Further details on the operation of neighbourhood CIL will be set out in secondary legislation which the Government intends to bring into force in April 2013

Spending What money can (and can’t) be spent on? The Localism Act sets out what neighbourhood CIL can be spent on: the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure - or anything else that is concerned with addressing demands that development places on an area.

“If you want to re-roof your village hall, build a permanent home for your community shop, refurbish the municipal swimming pool, implement a new landscape design in your local park or save your local pub, look no further.” Nick Boles: ‘Housing the Next Generation’ speech on 10 January Spending

Q&A – The mechanics of neighbourhood planning: Panel Discussion Do you have any questions on the neighbourhood planning process? The next session will focus on your role as a councillor in neighbourhood planning

Session 2: Your role as an elected member

Potential Roles Encourager Informer Connector Mediator Leader Technical interpreter

Your role as a mediator Between LPA and neighbourhood groups Encourage good communication/keep things positive Transparency is paramount Facilitating conversations (introduce your groups to landlords, developers, land-owners, LPA officers) Chairing meetings, particularly in early days Encouraging breadth in Forum make-up

Your leadership role Liaising with Councillors in neighbouring wards, particularly if suggested NP boundary is contentious Spotting early tensions with LPA officers and helping to resolve Providing context for LP policies and application. Councillors: –mobilise the LPA to do more than the statutory minimum –know the local political issues and how the LPA operates –can help to get developers engaged

Positive planning Realising positive opportunities via a NP covering your ward Pro-active involvement in planning decisions Planning from a more localist viewpoint and helping to turn NIMBYs into YIMBYs (whilst protecting sensitive areas). How you can aid the process as a ‘gatekeeper’?

Skills What skills are necessary to support a Neighbourhood Forum/Parish Council?

Skills to support NF/Parish Council Inter- personal Specialist Leadership Project management Ability to engage Listen Communication Negotiation Analysis Ability to work in a team Read and analyse maps/plans/data Knowledge of urban design, retail, heritage-led regeneration, housing, Environmental assessment Maintain relationships before and after plans are adopted Inter-personal skills are key for interaction with specialists

Workshop Discussion 1: Challenges and opportunities

Identify current planning opportunities and challenges associated within your neighbourhoods. How could Neighbourhood Planning help? How do you see your role? –Is it around process guidance? –A leadership role? –Chairing a NP steering group or working group? –How do you operate currently and how might this change under NP?

Session 3: Dispatches from the front line

Common themes emerging from front runners Case study presentation: Neighbourhood Forum representative Q&A Tea break

Case Study: Bankside Neighbourhood Forum (Tim Wood – Chair)

Bankside aerial view

Q&A Any questions?

Current groupsStage 22Published plans for consultation 2Next referendum (Exeter and Thame) 1Referendum Neighbourhood Plan snapshot

London Neighbourhood Forums

Emerging Themes - Process Boundaries – particularly in urban areas. Wards v neighbourhoods Enthusiasm of LPAs to actively support. Benefits not proven? Access to 30k grants given to LPAs Motivation and Pacing – particularly where an existing group takes on role and most of leg work for the process. Programme drift Websites - popularity of Neighbourhood Forum websites Diversity of groups - to give both plan making and plan itself more legitimacy Landowners and Developers - when to meet, how to handle, legal challenge, mistrust

Emerging Themes - Policy Thinking sustainably – not particularly easy for rural communities reliant on car or groups without a transition town type input When, where and pacing of development - coming to terms with housing allocation from higher plans Site Assessment - adopting good, consistent and reliable assessment criteria and showing careful process. Usefulness of a green, amber, red system How to offer more protection - of trees, green/open spaces, buildings, allotments gardens, biodiversity (e.g. railway corridors) Housing - limiting density (Daws Hill), pace of development (Denmead) loss of family housing, limiting houses in multiple occupation (Exeter St James), boosting specialist and affordable housing (many areas) Relationship between the local plan and NP - particularly influence over strategic sites and situation where no adopted local plan

Emerging Themes - Policy Employment: Facilities for home-working (46% in Caterham); high speed broadband, boosting local employment, keeping key employees happy Retail: Upgrading of local parades – bring back the high-street, conversion of residential to retail; limiting excessive concentration of e.g. takeaways & charity shops Public Realm pedestrian safety, green routes, the walking neighbourhood, crossing points shade, tranquillity Historic/ Essential Character – getting across the character of a place in planning terms Education – more land for local schools Keeping the balance – e.g. between more employment and more housing, reversing established development trends

Session 4: What you can do to help your neighbourhoods

Session 4: What you can do to develop better neighbourhoods? Helping your neighbourhood along the NP path Workshop discussion 2 Conclusions and closing remarks Close

Step 1 – Getting Established –Forming a steering group/lead organisation –Identify possible players : community, local business, landowners, developers, service providers and neighbouring areas –Negotiating the boundary Step 2 – Getting Organised –Bring interested parties together via meetings, workshops etc. –Agree a draft boundary for further consultation –Letter of intent to Local Authority to ask for recognition, advice and support Councillor input throughout the process

Step 3 – Developing vision, objectives and priorities –Define and agree the scope of plan through individual, group and public consultation events Step 4 – Consider challenges and opportunities –Use existing evidence from LPA and local evidence –Establish demand for housing and neighbourhood infrastructure Step 5 – Understanding evidence and gaps in knowledge –Identify resources and briefs for fresh research Councillor input throughout the process

Step 6 – Mobilise technical support –Decide how research will be done and by whom –LPAs, developers, landowners and service providers Step 7 – Commission further work –Use local volunteers or outside specialists Step 8 – Explore Options (and SEA if required) –‘Optioneering’ – identifying the best option Step 9 – Draft Plan and examination –Key stage for consensus-making with interested parties Councillor input throughout the process

Step 10 – Referendum –Encourage maximum interest in voting –Remind local people and interests what is at stake Step 11 – Adoption (responsibility of the LPA) –Communicate to residents new policies in force Step 12 – Action plan and resourcing –Ensure the plan is put into action and resources are co- ordinated with stakeholders Councillor input throughout the process

What’s the value for Councillors? Can neighbourhood planning help address longer term Ward concerns more effectively than traditional planning? Can neighbourhood planning help to deliver manifesto commitments? Can neighbourhood planning provide a channel for addressing common issues raised in your surgeries?

Workshop discussion 2: Using some of the innovative ideas from the day and best practice currently being applied within your breakout groups, consider what can be used in your local areas tomorrow. Do you require any further support? If so, what kind of support?

Conclusions and closing remarks Councillors play a key role in neighbourhood planning. ‘Gatekeeper’ between community and LPA Can speed up the process, break down barriers, engage different groups In-depth knowledge and passion for local areas

Further support, briefings and training Locality Roadmap - planning-roadmap-guide/ planning-roadmap-guide/ Planning Camps - community/planning-camp/ community/planning-camp/ –Planning Camps are free events designed to give inspiration and guidance to groups wanting to create a neighbourhood plan. Engaging Communities – where is the heart of your community? (The Eden Project, 2012)

Further support, briefings and training PAS briefings Other PAS training planned –‘Your Local Plan' Councillor workshop - getting your plan in place: good plan making, housing numbers and evidence (Birmingham) 26 March 2013 (free)

Further support, briefings and training Other resources: Community Knowledge Hub Community Planning Our Neighbourhood Planning

Thank you for listening any further questions?

Contact us Stuart Woodin - Head of Neighbourhood Planning & Social Sustainability phone / David Carlisle – Senior Planning Consultant phone /