Neighbourhood planning was introduced under the Localism Act 2011 to give communities the right to shape and develop their communities.
A neighbourhood plan is about the use and development of land. It may contain a vision, aims, planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, or allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. It may deal with a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues such as housing, employment, design, heritage and transport – or it may focus on one or two issues only. These may be issues that are relevant to the whole neighbourhood or just to part of the neighbourhood.
A neighbourhood plan will become part of the statutory development plan for the area. It will sit alongside the Dorset Council Local Plan – currently the old West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Plan , and then from about 2026 the new Dorset Council plan . This gives neighbourhood plans far more weight than some other local documents, such as parish plans, community plans and village design statements.
All neighbourhood plans must meet the ‘basic conditions’ set out in planning law. This will be tested by an independent examination. The basic conditions for neighbourhood plans are that they must:
- Have regard to national policy and be evidence based.
- Contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
- Be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Plan.
- Neighbourhood plans must comply with human rights legislation.
A neighbourhood plan should not promote less development than that identified in the local plan for the local area (such as new housing allocations). It can allow greater growth levels, providing it meets the basic conditions. It can specify policies and guidance on how new development should be designed, orientated and located.
Neighbourhood plans can be a powerful tool in shaping the development of a neighbourhood. The timeframe for the neighbourhood plan will be for communities to decide, for example whether it is a 5, 10, 15 or 20-year plan.
Once a neighbourhood plan has been prepared, it will have to be submitted to the local planning authority and then be subject to an independent examination. This will make sure that the proper legal process has been followed and that the plan meets the basic conditions.
The plan is then put to a referendum open to everyone who lives in the community of voting age. It is necessary that more than 50% of those voting in the referendum vote “yes” to bring the plan into force.
The Knightsford Neighbourhood Plan
The Knightsford Neighbourhood Plan, comprising the parishes of Tincleton, Woodsford, West Knighton and West Stafford, is in its early stages. While there will be some things in common between the parishes covered by generic policies there may also be individual issues. These will need bespoke policies for each parish. The Neighbourhood Plan will need to be shaped by various surveys and public consultations to accurately reflect the needs and wants of the community. Discussions will need to be held with the Local Planning Authority, local businesses, landowners and with any prospective developers.
The Steering Group
An initial Steering Group comprising Parish Councillors and community volunteers from each parish have met to establish funding and process. The Steering Group is currently supported by Jo Witherden, BSc (Hons) DipTP, DipUD, MRTPI, Dorset Planning Consultancy Ltd, who is skilled in this area of Planning.
Issues to consider
The complexity, time, and cost of producing the Knightsford Neighbourhood Plan, will depend on various factors:
- What is already covered in the Dorset Council Local Plan?
- The nature of the neighbourhood area (for example economic condition and expected level of growth) and the community’s preferred outcomes.
- Do all the Parishes need a plan? The decision on whether to produce a neighbourhood plan depends on how good the local plan is for individual parishes. If existing policy is robust and relevant to a parish then there may be no need for policies for that parish.
While Knightsford embraces 4 parishes and there is logic in including all 4 in the Neighbourhood Plan, the community of one parish may decide that there is little benefit from a neighbourhood plan. If it opts out of the process, that parish would also be opting out of any say in the future use of land in the area, relying totally upon the policies of the Local Plan.
Neighbourhood Plans – the law
Here is a link to the government’s neighbourhood planning website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/neighbourhood-planning–2
Neighbourhood Plans in Dorset
34 communities in Dorset have neighbourhood plans. Another 25 plans are being prepared. The closest villages to us with neighbourhood plans are Puddletown and Stinsford.
Find out more about Dorset neighbourhood plans on the Dorset Council’s website here: Neighbourhood plans in Dorset – Dorset Council
Funding and help for Neighbourhood Plans
An organisation called ‘Locality’ is funded by the government to help communities make their neighbourhood plans. Grants can be used by communities to help pay for printing, surveys, publicity, hall hire, and planning consultants. Technical support is available for housing need assessments, environmental studies, building design codes etc.
Their website has a huge amount of information on preparing plans: Home – Locality Neighbourhood Planning