Neighbourhood Planning

1. Neighbourhood Planning Presentation in Pebworth(July 2013) Bob Keith, Planning Aid

2. By the end of this session you should have a better understanding of the: town planning context statutory process you have to follow importance of project planning key components of plan preparation - inclusive community engagement - building an evidence base - considering site assessment and making allocations - writing policies and proposals, and justification Aims of the Session

3. Background to Planning Aid • Part of Royal Town Planning Institute • Help communities engage in the planning process • Provides free, independent, professional advice • A staff team of 12 people • Supported by network of over 700 volunteers • Offer two main services • A national telephone helpline (0330 123 9244) • Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning • http://www.rtpi.org.uk/planning-aid/neighbourhood-planning/ 3

4. THE PLANNING CONTEXT

5. The origins of town planning Dealing with the impacts of rapid urbanisation

6. The origins of town planning New visions for urban development

7. The origins of town planning Rebuilding Britain after the war

8. 1947 Town and Country Planning Act • Introduced the basis for the current planning system • Planning permission now required for development • All areas to have a ‘development plan’ • A ‘plan-led’ system • Some exemptions from planning control – ‘permitted development’

9. The national and regional policy context The problem: • a broken planning system • housing shortage/affordability • delays in getting planning permission • too much central interference Open Source Planning Conservatives Green Paper

10. The national and regional policy context The solution: • radical change • decisions taken locally • getting rid of regional planning • incentive driven development • strong role for local communities Open Source Planning Conservatives Green Paper

12. National Planning Policy Framework • Came into effect in March 2012 • Replaces previous PPSs and PPGs published by Government • Seen as part of growth agenda to revitalise the economy • It is 59 pages long and known as the ‘Framework’ • Sets out the Government’s planning policies for England • Provides basis for councils to prepare local plans and people to prepare neighbourhood plans • The presumption in favour of sustainable development • The golden thread running throughout document

13. The Localism Act 2011 Reforms to planning system include: • Abolition of regional strategies • Duty to co-operate • Community right to build • Reforming the community infrastructure levy • Reform to the way local plans are prepared • Nationally significant infrastructure projects • Neighbourhood planning

14. Neighbourhood Planning Tools • Neighbourhood Development Plans - A plan making power allowing local communities to shape development in their area • Neighbourhood Development Orders - An order granted by community granting planning permission for certain types of development • Community Right to Build Orders - An order made by community allowing them to bring forward small development for housing, business or community facilities 8

15. Neighbourhood Development Plans • Designated bodies to prepare are parish/town councils or designated neighbourhood forums • Non prescriptive - could be simple or go into detail • Can identify where new houses, businesses and shops should go, and what they should look like • No right of veto on wider development needs • Need to follow the strategic planning context, notably the Framework and Local Plan • Once ‘made’ they are a strong consideration for assessing planning applications • Preparation must follow a statutory process

16. THE STATUTORY PROCESS FOR PREPARATING A NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN

17. NP 5 Community Referendum 4 3 Independent Check 2 Preparing your Plan 1 Agreeing The Neighbourhood Neighbourhood Planning Regulations

18. Stage 1: Agreeing the neighbourhood Neighbourhood boundary

19. Stage 1 – Agree the area • Group submits neighbourhood area application to local planning authority comprising: - a plan showing boundary - statement why it should be designated - that a qualifying body • If no town or parish council exists then a neighbourhood forum needs to be established beforehand, with written constitution, open membership and a minimum of 21 individuals • Application publicised for 6 weeks • If acceptable then application approved

20. National overview • 452 applications submitted • 248 areas/forums designated (March 2013) • Top of the league – Herefordshire (25 applications, 20 designated) • 44% of Local Authorities have at least 1 application Planning resource: Neighbourhood Watch

21. Stage 2: Plan Preparation What needs to change? What’s bad? What’s good?

22. Stage 2 - Preparing the neighbourhood plan • A plan can be a single policy or a hundred policies • However it must contain policies! • It must be in line with NPPF and strategic policies of Local Plan • Essential to establish strong working relationship with LPA • Essential that wide and inclusive community engagement • Top down and bottom up!

23. Stage 2 – Preparing the plan • Plan preparation involves: - inclusive community engagement - build evidence base - site assessment - the writing of policies and proposals • Must include a formal 6 week consultation period to publicise the initial proposals in the draft plan and consider response • Publicise to those who live, work or carry out business

24. Stage 3 – Independent check • Plan then formally submitted to the local planning authority • It must include: - A map or statement - A consultation statement • The proposed Neighbourhood Development Plan • A statement explaining how the plan has met the ‘basic conditions’ e.g. had regard to NPPF and in general conformity with strategic planning policies in Local Plan • A statement confirming the background to the organisation and the process it has been through

25. Stage 3 – Independent check Council formally publicise the proposals for 6 weeks and invite comment Independent examiner appointed (paid for by local authority) Examiner will check met basic conditions: - has regard to NPPF and strategic elements of local plan - compatible with EU and human rights obligations Consider representations and possibly hold a public hearing Examiner could recommend go to referendum, suggest modifications, or refuse 25

26. Stage 4 – Referendum If acceptable, the council will then publish examiners report and the decision to put plan to a referendum (6 weeks) Local council will organise (and pay for) the referendum Examiner may recommend who entitled to vote May also have been previously agreed that it is a business area and there will then be a second referendum accordingly A majority of people voting must support the plan Underlines the importance of securing community support from the outset 26

27. Community Referendum Question “Do you want Wychavon District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Pebworth neighbourhood area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

28. Referendums to date… • Upper Eden – 33% turnout , 90% voted in favour • Exeter St James – 21% turnout, 92% voted Yes • Thame – 40% turnout, 76% voted Yes

29. Stage 5 – Make a plan The local planning authority will then publish decision to make the plan and make available for inspection Must publicise their decision for 6 weeks Plan then part of the statutory development plan for the area A basis for the determination of all planning applications and appeals 29

30. Local planning authority role • Provide assistance, hold an examination, arrange referendum • Funding for LPAs = £5k designation, £5k pre-examination, £20k successful examination • “Duty to support” types of support; • technical advice • facilitate consultation events • meet with group to give overview of procedures and issues • provide or direct group to background data/evidence • comment on draft proposals

31. PROJECT PLANNING

32. What goes in a project plan? • Aims and objectives – what you want to achieve • A breakdown of milestones, tasks and activities • A timetable of milestones, tasks and activities • Allocation of roles, responsibilities and task • Identification and allocation of resources • Budget planning and allocation • Risk assessment – where might things go wrong? • Communications plan – who, when and how

33. Project Timetable

34. Other key factors • Dates and times of town council meetings, steering group meetings and any associated themes groups • The District Council’s committee cycles and associated lead in times • The time and availability of volunteers • The need for a project manager to monitor and report on progress

35. THE SMALL MATTER OF PLAN PREPARATION…

36. The 4 Key Elements • Community engagement • The evidence base • Site assessment • Policy writing

37. THE BASICS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

38. Key Issues • Capacity of community to engage • Access to appropriate knowledge • Reaching silent majority • Reaching the hard to reach • Engaging when it can make a real difference • Keeping people in the loop

39. Profile • Create a picture of the make up of your community • Identify target audiences for your message • Adapt the message to suit the audience • Profile at events to see any gaps

40. Just some of the methods you might use • Interactive workshops - Displays, Post it notes, photo survey, guided walks, mapping, model making • Focus groups - Topic specific (e.g. environment, housing, infrastructure) • Surveys - Online questionnaires, web polls, paper questionnaires • Interviews - Telephone, face to face, street • Stalls at local fetes - Displays, opportunity to comment, mini surveys • Public meetings

41. Analysing engagement findings • Record the data • Collate the data • Identify key issues/themes • Strength of support – evidence, number of responses • Summarise each event separately

44. Develop a systematic approach • What are the issues that emerged from the consultation? • Develop a shared vision for the future • What are the objectives to deliver that vision? • Develop policies and proposals to achieve these objectives • Sitting under each policy and proposal is the reasoned justification from your evidence base

45. WHAT ON EARTH IS AN EVIDENCE BASE?

46. What is an evidence base? • A planning related evidence base is a portfolio of information and documents that support the development of a larger strategic plan or a neighbourhood plan • The National Planning Policy Framework outlines the evidence base local planning authorities need to consider when developing their Local Plans (paragraphs 158-177) • It includes: - population projections - the scale and mix of housing needed - business needs - infrastructure requirements

47. Why develop an evidence base? • It demonstrates that all the information is up-to-date and provides a clear picture of the existing ‘state’ of an area • An evidence base will demonstrate that the group has a ‘sound’ neighbourhood plan • Failure to produce or use a good up-to-date evidence base could result in the neighbourhood plan not meeting the basic conditions

48. What can an evidence base contain? The evidence base should contain two elements: • Participation: views of the local community and others who have an interest in the future of an area– through community consultation • Research/fact finding: evidence that the choices made by the plan are supported by the background facts

49. Local Plan evidence base • Strategic Flood Risk Assessment • Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment and Housing Needs Assessment • Conservation Area Appraisal(s) • Local Services and Facilities Assessment • Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) • Existing Monitoring Data (AMR) • Open Space and Play Pitch Assessment • Local Transport Study • Affordable Housing Needs Assessment • Landscape Character Assessment • Gypsy and Traveller Needs Assessment

50. SITE ASSESSMENT