Planning and Localism – How it can work for you John King Friends of the Peak District

Welcome Purpose of the training: Help break through the mystery that is planning! Focusing on plans – local plans and neighbourhood plans To provide you with the tools and experience to participate in plan-making …and therefore help to shape the future of our communities Produced alongside Planning explained, How to respond to planning applications and How to shape where you live.

Agenda 11.00Arrival and refreshments 11.30Introduction and aims of the day 11.35Activity 1 – Get it off your chest! 12.00Local Plans and Neighbourhood Planning 12.40Activity 2 - Getting the right planning policies 1.15Lunch 2.00 Local Authority presentations 2.30Creating a Neighbourhood Plan 2.50Experiences of Chapel Vision 3.20Plenary and wrap up session 4.00Close

Activity Get it off your Chest! Task: Record your local issue on a post it and place on the appropriate sheet.

Importance of the Development Plan

Planning Policies Reconciling different interests Economic growth Environmental protection Climate change Regeneration High quality design Communities Biodiversity Transport Housing crisis Ageing population Heritage protection Unemployment Energy production Economic recession ‘NIMBYs’

Key components of planning European law English planning law and regulations National Planning Policy Framework The development plan: Local plan Neighbourhood plans Sustainable community strategy Community involvement Enforcement Development management Delivery Monitoring

Development Plans you may come across The local plan (or core strategy) – year strategy setting out the strategic vision and objectives Site allocations/Proposals policies – Identifies development allocations/designations Development management development plan documents – Policies guide decisions on planning applications (included in the core strategy or as a separate document) Area action plans – Guides development in areas where significant change is planned Supplementary planning documents – Detailed guidance on specific policies/issues

Why should you get involved in influencing plans? It’s the best way to influence where and how development takes place Planning applications not in line with the development plan are less likely to get planning permission (although it’s not impossible) Once the plan is adopted, the big decisions have already been made, and our influence becomes much more limited Town and parish councils are some of the key organisations that local authorities consult directly

When and how to get involved There are two stages where you can give your views: The engagement stage – collect evidence and develop: vision/objectives/options/spatial strategy/writing policies and proposals – Local planning authorities will engage with communities at this stage – Consultation on draft (optional) The formal consultation stage – The ‘publication stage’, produced before submission to Secretary of State and examination

What is Neighbourhood Planning?

Key Components of Planning European Law English Planning Law and Regulations National Planning Policy Framework The Development Plan: Local Plan Neighbourhood Plans Sustainable Community Strategy Community Involvement Enforcement Development Management Delivery Monitor

What are Neighbourhood Plans? Neighbourhood Plans are part of the Development Plan (with the Local Plan) - planning applications need to comply with the it otherwise they are unlikely to receive permission Consequently it must comply with legal duties and may require a Sustainability Appraisal

What is a Neighbourhood Plan? A Neighbourhood Plans can be used to: Develop a shared vision for your neighbourhood. Choose where new homes, shops, offices and other development should be built. Identify and protect important areas and buildings. Influence what new buildings should look like. You don’t have to do a Neighbourhood Plan

Who can prepare a Neighbourhood Plan? Town and Parish Councils Neighbourhood Forums

The role of the Local Planning Authority Approves creation of Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Plan Area Assists and advices Provides information or evidence to help inform your Plan Checks the Plan has been prepared correctly Arranges an ‘examination’ Organises a local referendum Adopts the Plan as part of the Development Plan

Your Neighbourhood Plan can: Decide where and what type of development should happen in the neighbourhood. Promote more development than is set out in the Local Plan. Include policies that take precedence over the Local Plan (provided they don’t conflict with its strategic priorities).

Your Neighbourhood Plan can’t: Conflict with the Local Plan or prevent development that is included within it. Be prepared by a body other than a parish or town council or a neighbourhood forum.

What a Neighbourhood Plan might contain It’s up to you! – But it must be about the use and development of land and buildings. Neighbourhood Plans might contain policies about – the development of affordable housing, provision for businesses to set up or expand, community facilities, design of buildings ….

Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDOs) An additional means of delivering development in your area (separate from a NP) Can either be used as an alternative to or in accordance with a NP Can be used to deliver a specific community development objectives more quickly

Activity 2: Getting the right planning policies Task: Each group has been given an description of an area and a brief outline of the community’s concern. How would you get the right policies to achieve what they want? 1.Which Local Authority planning documents and policies do you need to influence? 2.Would a Neighbourhood Plan be appropriate? 3.Who can help? 4.What evidence would you need? 5.What other non-planning mechanisms exist to get what they want?

Pocklington The residents of Pocklington village would like more affordable homes and believe that planning policies should be able to demand more affordables within new residential developments and that sites should be found for the development of affordable homes. What should they do to get planning policies to deliver more affordable homes? If a Neighbourhood Plan is appropriate, what policies should it contain, and what evidence will they need? What other mechanisms could they use?

Hampton The residents of Hampton, have been campaigning for improvements to their local park. It is in poor condition and has become a hot spot for anti-social behaviour. They believe money for improvements should come from the local housing developments as planning gain. How would they get the right planning policies to improve their park? If a Neighbourhood Plan is appropriate, what policies should it contain, and what evidence will you need? What other mechanisms could they consider?

Chucklebury This town has numerous buildings which contribute to the character of the settlement. Most are not listed or in a Conservation Area. The community has seen many demolished to make way for denser housing developments, especially in the eastern half of the town. How would they get the right planning policies to protect these buildings? If a Neighbourhood Plan is appropriate, what policies should it contain, and what evidence will you need? What other mechanisms could they consider?

Lunch Afternoon’s Agenda 2.00 Local Authority presentations 2.30Creating a Neighbourhood Plan 2.50Experiences of Chapel Vision 3.20Plenary and wrap up session 4.00Close

How to create a Neighbourhood Plan: The 8 Step Process

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 1 Getting started

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 2 Identifying the issues

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 3 Develop a vision and objectives

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 4 Generate options

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 5 Draft your Neighbourhood Plan

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 6 Consultation and submission

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 7 Independent examination

An 8-step guide to preparing a Neighbourhood Plan Step 8 Referendum and adoption

Plenary Session Is a Neighbourhood Plan appropriate and what should you do next?

Further info Help on planning and free guides to download at Free online training at Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning at: Further advice can be obtained from: