Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Paragraph: 52
We recognise the value of neighbourhood plans.
Recommendation
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.
Paragraph Reference:
52
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
19. The Government agrees with this recommendation. It recognises the value of N eighbourhood Plans and will strengthen the role of neighbourhood planning, giving local communities better opportunities to influence future development in their area. The Government is keen to see more communities making use of neighbourhood plans and it has already taken steps to achieve this. In January 2022, the Government awarded funding to a select number of local authorities to test new ways to support the uptake of neighbourhood planning in underrepresented areas. 20. The Bill does not change the ability which communities have to prepare their own n eighbourhood plan. Alongside this, the Bill introduces a simpler neighbourhood planning tool called a ‘neighbourhood priorities statement’ (NPS). This is designed to be a more accessible, cheaper and faster way for communities to get involved in neighbourhood planning, particularly in areas that currently have low levels of take-up. NPSs will allow communities to identify key priorities and preferences for their area and may potentially act as a launchpad to preparing a full neighbourhood plan, design code or another community initiative. NPSs would also be used as a formal input to the local plan process with local authorities required to consider them. 21. To give local people even more say on development in their area, the Bill would also allow c ommunities to implement ‘street votes’ should they wish to. These will allow residents to propose development on their street and hold a vote to determine whether it should be given planning permission.