A new landmark has been reached, with 200 communities now approving Neighbourhood Plans, it has emerged…
Support for Neighbourhood Plans has reached a major milestone, with 200 communities voting to shape their local area. This is on top of the 1,900 English communities that have already started to get their own plans in place.
The plans aim to give local residents and businesses a voice in how their community is developed. This includes where homes, schools, and businesses should be built. Furthermore, it also covers what construction should look like and what necessary infrastructure is required. Communities are asked to engage in the development of plans through all stages, before it is voted in a referendum.
Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: “I’m delighted that 200 communities have now voted in neighbourhood planning to help shape the future of their areas.
“By giving communities new powers we have removed the outdated system which often saw local areas pitted against developers.
“And it is clear that more and more people are getting involved with determining how the future of their area will evolve for future generations.”
Data revealed that all 200 plans developed since 2013 have progressed to the referendum stage and gained approval by voters. On average, 89 per cent of those who voted showed favour for their proposed Neighbourhood Plan.
Plans have an important role to play in local development, with plans for housebuilding more than 10 per cent higher in areas with a Neighbourhood plan than those with a council’s Local Plan.
In a bid to encourage more uptake of Neighbourhood Planning within communities, the Housing and Planning Act put into place measures to streamline the process. This includes the Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme, which gives community groups the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £9,000 or £15,000 in areas with complex needs to gain specialist planning expertise, to develop websites or to fund events to bring greater resident engagement.
