How does all of this work?

First, we need to define who we are and what we need from the Plan by collecting evidence.

For example we are a diverse and dynamic population

We are families, neighbours, teachers, trainers, nurses, care workers, data managers, IT consultants, finance, architects, writers, artists, photographers, semi-retired, armed forces, trades people, entrepreneurs, farmers, students, musicians and volunteers…

  • 2,700 people

  • 1,140 households

  • 20% run their own businesses

  • 49% live outside of the two main villages

What does this Neighbourhood Plan look like in Practice?

Policy Making Powers

  • Create a shared vision, highlight community needs and influence the way the area develops.

    Allocate sites to meet local needs including housing, business or community uses.

    Reduce the risk of speculative development and give direction to the use of developer contributions.

    Put forward policies and measures designed to protect the natural and built environment.

  • Suggest specific projects to help deliver Neighbourhood Plan policies and proposals.

    Outline projects to be implemented by a Community Trust such as sustainable homes, heritage walks or allotments.

  • Deviate from the strategic direction outlined in district, county and national plans.

    Cannot ‘stop’ permitted or strategic development but can reduce the risk of inappropriate speculative development and steer it to better suit local needs.

    Cannot propose unsustainable or unviable developments.

Landscape & Environment

  • Specify and protect environmental and heritage assets and key local views.

    Designate green spaces for protection if they can be shown to be special to the community.

    Encourage development to minimise carbon emissions and maximise resource efficiency.

    Allocate land for a renewable energy scheme.

  • Complementary traffic schemes to alleviate carbon emissions.

  • Whilst we can encourage zero carbon development, we cannot enforce anything beyond national standards

Traffic

  • Analyse key movement routes & danger points that new developments must address, (incl. car parking & pedestrian and cyclist access)

    Ask questions about public transport use.

    Design proposals and policies that acknowledge the limitations of local accessibility and discourage development which generates an unacceptable level of traffic.

  • Assess if local transport capacity is adequate to achieve future sustainable development.

    Comment on parking issues (and allocate land) but design policies about existing parking.

    Suggest actions, including community bus services to reduce carbon emissions.

  • Cannot make policies on existing issues, such as signage or speeds or address existing public service reliability and cost.

    Can outline actions highlighted through the community engagement process to be addressed by others.

Business & Employment

  • Help ensure that the historic environment in the parish will be valued and remain viable for future generations.

    Allocate land/buildings for specific employment needs.

    Create policies to ensure that the design of business frontages are in keeping with the setting.

    Designate local green spaces for protection from development if they can be shown to be very special to the community.

  • Digital infrastructure (broadband, mobile reception) can be raised as a key issue but is addressed through other means.

    Comment on parking issues and allocate land for parking but not make a policy statement about the revision of existing parking restrictions.

  • Discuss business rates or rents on existing properties.

    A Neighbourhood Plan cannot make policies on existing issues such as traffic signage or speeds but the NP can outline actions highlighted through the community engagement process to be addressed by Parish, District and County Councils.

Housing

A Neighbourhood Plan can identify where any housing which meets local need could be sited and the form that it should take.

The specific localised policies within our Neighbourhood Plan combined with the district wide Local plan is the starting point in deciding any planning application.

In the absence of a plan, any area is MORE vulnerable to speculative developments.