Whitchurch Neighbourhood Plan

What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

Neighbourhood Plans are a fundamentally new tool to give communities more control over the type, location, size, pace and design of development in their areas. They were introduced under the Localism Act 2011 as part of a suite of new community rights.

How does a Neighbourhood Plan get adopted?

Once drafted a Neighbourhood Plan must be passed by an external examiner, after which the plan can be put to a local referendum for approval by the voting electorate in the parish. If that referendum has a majority positive vote it will (after a 6 week pause) become adopted

How long will it take to get a Neighbourhood Plan in place?

The process started in August 2014 and it may take up to 2 years to complete. However we need your involvement at this early stage to give guidance on areas which you feel the plan ought to focus.

Why should Whitchurch have a Neighbourhood Plan?

Without a Neighbourhood Plan, Whitchurch will leave itself wide open to any and all development applications. Without a Plan, Whitchurch will be powerless to defend itself against any unwanted development.

We expect the Whitchurch Neighbourhood Plan to have an intensely local focus. It can be as ambitious or as modest as the community decides. So please take the time to attend YOUR community focus meeting on:

It’s your village, so have your say in its future!

“A Neighbourhood Plan has teeth”

A major housing application had been refused by the local planning authority and the application went to appeal. Crucially the scheme was not in line with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan. Communities Minister, Eric Pickles, rejected the appeal because of a conflict with the adopted Neighbourhood Plan and said:

“ … neighbourhood plans once made part of the development plan, should be upheld as an effective means to shape and direct development in the neighbourhood planning area to ensure that the best located sites are developed”

Nick Boles, Under-Secretary of state for Communities and Local Government also said:

“ …for the first time ever in the planning system a neighbourhood document has equal statuary force alongside a local plan”

Please let us know if you would like to help and/or be kept informed by contacting:

WHITCHURCH VILLAGE COUNCIL, COMMUNITY CENTRE OFFICE, BRISTOL ROAD WHITCHURCH BRISTOL BS14 0PT
TEL: 01275 839873
Email to:–

info@whitchurchparishcouncil.co.uk

Latest News for the Whitchurch Neighbourhood Plan