Neighbourhood Planning Update

World of Planning – June 2014

A Quick Reminder…..

What is Neighbourhood Planning? • Provides communities with the power to make their own

planning policies to shape future development in and around where they live.

• Once made it carries statutory weight as part of the Development Plan

• A responsibility to deliver the sustainable development they need.

• A Neighbourhood Plan is a right not a requirement

National Picture

What’s Happening in Waveney?

What’s Happening in Suffolk Coastal?

Experience so far within the East Suffolk Area

• Interest in Neighbourhood Planning is growing • Key message is that it has to be the right tool

for achieving particular objectives • Is a Neighbourhood Plan wanted/needed • Mistaken belief that Parish/Town Plans are no

longer valid • A Village Review, Parish or Town Plan can be

used as a starting point

Experience so far (cont’d)

• Only when you know what the local issues are can you decide how to deal with them

• What about existing adopted policies? • Although the Council are not leading the

process it is proving time consuming

Lessons so far from the LPA perspective

• Every Plan is different • Every community undertaking one requires different

help • Clarity needed on how the local authority will deal

with each stage in the process – more proactive • Early input before you decide which type of plan you

produce • Help to define planning issues following

questionnaire responses

Lessons so far (cont’d)

• Early and continual engagement from the NP group

• Input advice/guidance on initial draft plan before consultation

• Project plans • Service Level Agreement to manage expectations • Clarity needed on how the Neighbourhood

Planning (NP) group can help the Council • Work jointly between Active Communities and

Planning Policy

Best Practice

• Look at others plans • Community support from the outset • Be clear about the level of support needed –

particularly when employing consultants • Be aware that not all questionnaire responses

can be incorporated into a Neighbourhood Plan

• Make use of the help and advice already out there

Further Information

Neighbourhood Planning Guidance Notes on the Council’s website UP FRONT monthly e-bulletin Locality Website

Thank You for Listening

Any questions