Recommendation 8

We recognise the value of neighbourhood plans. They should have a significant role in the development of new Local Plans. To be effective they need to be up- to-date and representative of the whole community and a clear part of the new framework. Local authorities and existing neighbourhood forums need to strive to ensure a representative range of voices are heard in the production of neighbourhood plans, and there should be a timeframe for producing and revising them to ensure they remain relevant. Ahead of the Planning Bill, the Government must clarify the role and status of neighbourhood plans in the proposed system. The Government should consider how to make the neighbourhood planning more relevant to local people and how to ensure that residents feel empowered to both contribute to and own the plan.