1. Trevor Warrick Spatial Policy and Implementation Manager
Neighbourhood Planning
Trevor Warrick
Spatial Policy and Implementation Manager

2. Localism: Key Themes Legislation in place Localism Act (Nov 2011)
Neighbourhood Planning Regs (Apr and Aug 2012)
National policy changes
Streamlined national policy (NPPF and PPG)
Extended permitted development rights
More control (and powers) for local communities
Targets set local plan (not nationally or regionally)
Neighbourhood plans
Neighbourhood development orders
Community rights (including right to build orders)
Incentives to bring forward development
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
New Homes Bonus
New powers for communities to act (neighbourhood plans, neighbourhood development orders and community right to build orders to name but a few)
Plus 25% of CIL funding from new development will be given direct to the parish / town council (without a NP, this is reduced to 15% and capped, with just a NDO the 25% would apply just to the NDO site)

3. Neighbourhood Plans What are they?
Statutory planning policy documents (higher status than village design statements or parish plans)
Form part of the development plan (with the local plan)
Used to determine planning applications
Complementary to parish plans, which cover a wider range of issues
Prepared by local communities (town / parish council or neighbourhood forum)
Voluntary, not compulsory
(which tend to be focused on community actions and service provision)

4. What can they achieve? Should address local issues and can:
Be site-specific or topic-based
Allocate land for development
Amend defined development boundaries
Set new or change existing policies
Provide design / character guidance
Designate Local Green Spaces
Identify where CIL will be spent
Plus 25% of CIL funding from new development will be given direct to the parish / town council (without a NP, this is reduced to 15% and capped, with just a NDO the 25% would apply just to the NDO site)

5. Neighbourhood Development Orders
Do away with the need for planning permission – defines what is ‘permitted development’
Can grant outline or detailed planning permission
Prepared by local communities (town / parish councils or a neighbourhood forum)
Subject to examination and referendum
(which tend to be focused on community actions and service provision)

6. How are they prepared? 1
Parish Council initiates process the District Council must consult on and agree the Neighbourhood Area
Local community develops the NP District Council has duty to support
Consultation for a minimum of 6 weeks – summarise and address concerns
Neighbourhood Plan submitted and publicised for comment (for 8 weeks)
Independent examination
Local referendum - if a majority (51% of those that vote) are in favour, the NP is ‘made’ 2 3 4 5 6

7. Succeeding at Examination
A NP must meet four ‘basic conditions’
to have regard to national policy (NPPF and PPG)
to be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan (the adopted local plan)
to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development
to be compatible with EU and human rights obligations. Strategic Environmental Assessment, or in the case of a development order Environmental Impact Assessment, may be needed
The Planning and Compensation Act 2004 requires that decisions made should be in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Are the local plan policies broadly right for your area?

8. West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Joint Local Plan
“To be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan (the adopted local plan).”
Progress
Consultation started: Autumn 2011
Consultation on pre-submission draft: June/July 2012
Submitted for examination: June 2013
Further consultation on changes: Aug/Oct 2013
Exploratory Meeting: January 2014
Plan suspended for 6 months for additional work on housing numbers
Examination hearings: Nov/Dec 2014
Consultation on modifications: Spring 2015
Adoption: Autumn 2015
The Planning and Compensation Act 2004 requires that decisions made should be in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Are the local plan policies broadly right for your area?

9. West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Joint Local Plan
In the New Local Plan Litton Cheney, which is in the Dorset AONB, has:
No development allocations
No defined development boundary (DDB).
Outside DDBs development is ‘strictly controlled’ but policy may permit certain developments including:
Agricultural, forestry or horticulture
Alterations and extensions to existing buildings
New employment, tourism, educational / training, recreational or leisure developments
Rural exception affordable housing and rural workers housing
The re-use of rural buildings for market housing
Sites for Gypsies and Travellers
Renewable energy or other utility infrastructure
Local facilities appropriate to a rural area.

10. Gathering Evidence
Relevant and up-to-date facts and figures are needed to support development proposals and to show how it meets community needs. Examples of evidence that may be needed include:
The structure of the local community
Future growth requirements
Issues that the community considers need to be addressed
Some issues may have a ‘spatial’ element requiring map-based evidence and potentially site-based ‘allocations’
The Planning and Compensation Act 2004 requires that decisions made should be in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Are the local plan policies broadly right for your area?

11. Managing the Project
Be organised! The amount of work will depend on the size and complexity of the NP.
The working group needs to be flexible and large enough
You need a clear remit and to be transparent and open about decisions
You will need different skill sets, including project management, communication and consultation planning, research and analysis, report writing
You need to be clear on who does what, when and how
You will also need other resources such as venue hire, printing, websites etc. 
The Planning and Compensation Act 2004 requires that decisions made should be in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Are the local plan policies broadly right for your area?

12. Available Support Central Government funding via Locality
Grant payments: up to £8,000 per neighbourhood area to contribute to costs (April 2015)
Direct support: up to a further £6,000 in grant or specific packages for groups facing more complex issues
Grants and support are also available for groups wanting to prepare a Community Right to Build Order
Local Planning Authority
Planning Link Officer - advice, specialist officers
Examination & Referendum
Landowners / Developers
Development expertise, site surveys, financial viability, publicity material etc.

13. Progress on Neighbourhood Planning
NPs Made
Cerne Valley: first NP in Dorset – 8 January 2015
NPs in progress (areas designated / proposed)
Askerswell
Bridport area
Buckland Newton
Cam Vale (NDO for Longburton Depot)
Charmouth
Holwell
Loders
Maiden Newton and Frome Vauchurch
Piddle Valley
Portland
Puddletown

14. Links National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF):
Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) Neighbourhood Planning Section:
West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland Neighbourhood Planning Page:
Cerne Valley Neighbourhood Plan Page:
Locality Main Page:

15. Contact Details
Trevor Warrick Spatial Policy and Implementation Manager