1. Loders Neighbourhood Plan
The process

2. Important Key Stages
An open event held to gather support to undertake the process
Formation of steering group
Defining our proposed NP area
Seeking funding
Community consultation and surveys
Preparing our draft NP
Consultation on our draft NP
Independent examination of our NP
Referendum and adoption

3. Stage1. Initial open event to gather support to undertake the process
Organised by the Parish Council and well publicised
All known village groups informed and invited to send representative
Presentation about Neighbourhood Plans
Establish extent of possible local support for instituting NP
Identify local issues of concern – feedback sheet
Recruit members for a Steering Group
Issues raised were collated and presented to the next meeting of the PC
PC takes lead –managers of project
Publicity
Village groups—included some outside interests 3

5. Main issues raised at initial meeting
Fate of redundant farm buildings
Concerns about small farms and businesses
Preservation of landscape and rural environment
Wish to protect village amenities: pub, school, village hall, allotments
Possibility of new homes in village—possible types, numbers, range of need, relationship to existing character of village
Second homes – concerns about their impact
High degree of interest in those attending the meeting to form a steering group

6. Stage 2. Formation of steering group
Recruited from volunteers at initial meeting
Included some parish councillors
Represented good cross section of community
15 members at outset
Parish clerk attended and recorded all SG meetings
SG chaired by Parish council chair
SG reported to PC

7. Stage 3 Defining our proposed NP area
Statutory requirement – Loders chose the area within the Parish boundary
Formal application made to the District Council Planning Department
Agreement sought from statutory consultees by WDDC: English Heritage, utility companies, Environment, Marine and Highways agencies and electoral services

8. Stage 4 Seeking funding
Initially, in 2011, funding via Dorset Community Action
Now funding available from Locality, currently £8000

9. Stage 5 Community consultation and surveys
Whole village individual consultation: Loders Parish Survey July 2012
Questionnaire on range of issues produced by SG, delivered to and collected from every household. Designed to accommodate individual responses by all household members over age of 11.
81% households returned completed surveys
Survey report published and delivered to every household April 2013
Survey data analysed by SG. Provided mandate for NP and formed basis of the NP

10. Stage 5 Community consultation and surveys
Village Open meeting May 2013 to
present and discuss Survey Report
recruit new members for SG to prepare NP based on Report’s findings.
Also presentation by WDDC Planning Dept. on “Neighbourhood Planning”
Consultation/presentation evening for draft NP policies September 2014
All households circulated with invitation and outline draft of main proposed NP policies
Presentation by WDDC planning officer
Feedback sessions on draft policies
Focus on Defined Development Boundary (DDB) and choices facing parish

11. Stage 5 Community consultation and surveys
Village vote on DDB options October 2014
All households circulated with leaflet and voting options
Results collated and chosen option adopted by SG and Parish Council and incorporated into the final LNP draft
Draft Plan Consultation Feb-March 2015
All households consulted and draft NP made available
Drop in sessions
Statutory consultees consulted including WDDC
Responses collated and NP amended by SG where appropriate
April 2015 LNP Submission draft lodged with WDDC for their consultative stage

12. Stage 6 Preparing our draft NP
Key draft policies based on responses to Parish Village Survey 2012:
Facilitate limited residential development to up to 10 new houses over next 15 years within a DDB
Type and location of new housing: infill, single or small groups. Small family homes or for first time buyers
Facilitate development or reuse of redundant farm building –housing or small businesses
Protection of parish community assets
Safeguard character of the village/parish and its environment
Encourage local business to ensure village remains active working community

13. Stage 6 Preparing our draft NP
Steering group 10 – 15 members.
Collaborative effort with focus on consensus. Tasks shared between members
Benefited from range of skills: photographer, local historian, planners, researchers, statistician, excellent admin/clerical support, strong local knowledge, working people and the retired
Time line structure (amended a number of times!) to keep us on track
Good support throughout from the WDDC planning department
Previous Loders village surveys: Village Design Statement, Conservation Area Appraisal, Village Appraisal which supplied key information
In early stages, good training offered by Locality
In final stage we employed a free-lance planning consultant to support writing our final draft
Good working relationship between the Steering Group and Parish Council

14. Stage 6 Preparing our draft NP
Neighbourhood Plan Documents
Loders Neighbourhood Plan
Loders Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Summary
Basic Conditions Statement
Strategic Environmental Assessment

15. Stage 8 Independent examination of our NP
October 2015 WDDC applied to the Neighbourhood Planning Independent Examiner Referral Service
November 2015 Loders Parish Council chose from shortlist
January 2016 Examiner’s Report issued—approval to some modifications and amendments
February 2016 modifications and amendments agreed between WDDC and SG/Loders Parish Councils and post examination draft LNP produced
March 2016 final draft accepted by WDDC Executive Committee

16. Stage 9 Referendum and adoption
March to May Referendum publicised – every household notified and sent executive summary by PC
Drop in sessions held
May 5th Referendum held: 175 (83%) in favour of LNP, turnout 39.8

17. Final thoughts Important to
Involve as much of community as possible – good cross section
Have masses of energy and keep momentum going
Find sources of good advice
Keep good records
Foster goodwill
Share information
Work towards maintaining consensus