Community Forum Briefing
Planning at the Local Level
The Localism Act 2011 and
Neighbourhood and Parish Planning
Jude Simpson- Community Project Officer
Community Forum Briefing
Welcome to a 30 minute Presentation and
Panel session on:
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The Localism Act: implications for Planning
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Community-led planning at the Parish level…and within the South
Downs National Park
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Parish Plans and other local initiatives in the new era of
Neighbourhood Development Planning
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Funding for planning, growth and infrastructure
Community Forum Briefing
Objectives for this evening:
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Provide a general introduction to the Localism Act and the
Government’s intentions for planning at the neighbourhood level
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Provide an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of East
Hampshire District Council and the South Downs National Park
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Consider how Parish and Town Councils will adapt to the new
regime – what now for community-led planning at the Parish level
within East Hampshire and the South Downs National Park ?
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Consider future steps…
The Principles of Localism
Localism
The ethos - Doing everything at the lowest
possible level and only involving central
government if absolutely necessary.
Decentralisation
What we have to do – Giving power to
individuals, professionals, communities and
local institutions
Big Society
The end result – A society where people,
neighbourhoods and communities have more
power and responsibility and use it to create
better services and outcomes
The Localism Act 2011
Not just about Planning:
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Community Rights
Aims to ensure that community organisations have a fair chance to bid
to take over land or buildings that are important to them.
Housing
More decisions about housing to be taken locally, and make the system
fairer and more effective.
Empowering cities and other local areas
Ministers to transfer public functions to local authorities in order to
improve local accountability or promote economic growth
General power of competence
Local authorities given the legal capacity to work creatively to meet local
needs, without having to wait for agreement from Central Government.
The Planning Context
Ian Godfrey – Planning Policy Team Leader
(EHDC)
Localism Act 2011 and
Neighbourhood Planning
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Enacted November 2011 – Regulations continue to
come into force
•
A new beginning for the Council and SDNPA to work
collaboratively with communities
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Context of national growth agenda and reducing
Council resources
•
Must take forward the quantum and distribution of
development identified in Joint Core Strategy (The
Local Plan)
Where we are now: Joint
Core Strategy (Local Plan)
Timetable
• Pre-Submission Publication completed
16 March 2012
• Submission 25 May 2012
• Examination August 2012
• Inspector’s Report November 2012
• Adoption End December 2012
Provides the framework for the quantum and
distribution of development up to 2028.
Where we are heading: Allocations
and Development Management
Document (Local Plan: Part 2)
To be progressed during 2013.
Context set by Joint Core Strategy and shaped by
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Allocates specific land for development and more detailed
policies.
Collaboration with local communities.
We need to know which communities want to plan for
themselves.
Where we are now: Other
Types of Plans
• Parish Plans
• Not part of the formal Development Plan
• Outlines future community development
• Sound evidence of local issues
• Clanfield case study
• Village Design Statements
• Landscape Character Assessments
Neighbourhood Planning:
the new tools
Neighbourhood Development Plans
Communities can write a plan which, if passed, becomes part of the
statutory planning framework for the area
Neighbourhood Development Orders
Communities can agree to approve a particular development or
type of development within a particular area without the need for
planning permission
Community Right to Build
Communities will be able to develop land subject to proposal
passing examination and referendum (via an NDO)
Different types of Neighbourhood Plans emerging
Neighbourhood Development
Order (Minor development )
Mini Local Plan
•Comprehensive coverage
of policy issues.
•Allocate development sites for
wide range of uses
•Residential – minor development
(e.g. house extensions, windows)
•Town centre - change of use /
minor changes signage
•Business park / industrial estate
minor development
•Neighbourhood plans covering
a narrower range of issues.
•Often theme specific
•Allocate development sites
for narrow range of uses.
Policy Plans
Single Policy Document
•Neighbourhood Plan covering
a single policy issue (e.g. protection
of green space)
Policy and Allocation Plans
Neighbourhood Development
Order (Site specific)
•Development of a particular site
(e.g. small housing scheme under
CRtB)
•Neighbourhood plans covering
a broad range of policy issues.
•No site allocations.
•Similar to Parish Plans.
•Augment Local Plan policy
Neighbourhood Plans
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Must include Local Plan housing targets as a minimum may propose more - i.e. shaping not stopping development
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Independent examination by examiner, and Plan must
conform with:
- strategic content of Local Plan
- National Planning Policy Framework
- neighbouring neighbourhood plans
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Local referendum – Simple >50% of those voting are in
favour of it, then, local planning authority must adopt
Neighbourhood Plan
A community applies for a
neighbourhood area to be designated
– Parish in EHDC
Community works up details of plan
Consult statutory consultees as
appropriate
Submit plan to the local
authority
The local planning
authority (LPA) can
advise
LPA to advise on
conformity with Local
Plan
Independent Examination
LPA to
adopt plan
as
statutory
planning
document
LPA to arrange
Local authority checks proposals
Community referendum
Make a plan or order
Council to
arrange. A
simple majority
is required
CLG ‘Front runners’ - Lessons
• Major issues - Housing – how much and where, town
centres, regeneration, infrastructure/transport and
rural isolation - Strategic issues beyond the scope of
local neighbourhood plans
• Clarity on why you are doing the Plan & what it will
deliver
• Strong leadership, governance and enthusiasm
Neighbourhood Plans - Budget
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Localism Act places a duty on Local Planning Authority
(LPA) to provide advice and assistance to qualifying bodies
in developing Neighbourhood Plans/orders.
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No requirement for direct LPA financial assistance –
Frontrunner funds or Parishes to pay?
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Local Planning Authority (EHDC/SDNPA) pay for
Examination – Budgets!
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Council pays for referendum – Budgets!
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Detail on funding arrangements still emerging –
Government is giving some support.
Which is the right plan?
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They are all about ‘planning’ for the future
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Neighbourhood Plans and Design Statements are part of
Development Plan – used to determine planning applications
– Parish Plan is not
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Local Planning Authorities will continue to work with
communities to plan for development
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Understand the issues before deciding
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Which plan can achieve what you want – needs to be
resourced
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Toolkit being prepared to help decide best approach
Case Study: Petersfield
Petersfield one of 3 successful Frontrunner
communities in the National Park (also Fernhurst and
Findon in West Sussex)
Will receive £20,000 towards neighbourhood planning
in the parish
Allows the Town Council to begin neighbourhood
planning and test how it works.
Case Study: Petersfield
Long history of community based planning supported by PTC, EHDC
and others.
Petersfield Tomorrow initiative resulted in...
Market Town health check
Identified strengths and weaknesses under 4 themes:- Work and
Business, Surroundings, Getting About and Providing for the
Community.
Led to a series of projects to tackle issues.
Town Design Statement adopted by EHDC – identifies what makes
Petersfield distinctive and characteristics of different areas.
Case Study: Petersfield
The Petersfield Plan
Provides much of the groundwork for neighbourhood planning. Looks at
employment, housing and retail opportunities and how this relates to
community needs and environmental impacts.
Joint Core Strategy East Hampshire District Local Plan:
part of the statutory planning framework
“Will retain its current role as a main centre for facilities and
services…constraints on Petersfield’s growth includes views from and to
the surrounding hills and the need for any growth to support National Park
purposes and its duty towards the local community (where this does not
conflict with its purposes).”
Case Study: Petersfield
Up to 2028, Petersfield required to provide an additional 330
dwellings beyond existing commitments.
Neighbourhood Plan will need to identify sites. Look at how any
negative impacts can be avoided or moderated.
Joint Core Strategy provides headlines on employment, retail,
transport, leisure, landscape and biodiversity: neighbourhood
plan can add further detail.
Town Council will be hosting launch event for Neighbourhood
Plan shortly.
Funding infrastructure at the
neighbourhood level
The Government’s aim is to encourage
communities to welcome new development, with
incentives on offer:
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Community Right to Build
New Homes Bonus
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
So what is CIL ?
Funding infrastructure at the
neighbourhood level -CIL
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A charge ( £ per Sq Metre - tariff) on development to fund infrastructure
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Came into force in 2010; could be adopted in East Hants by mid 2013,
and in National Park by 2014
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The charge should not put at risk the economic viability of the area (as
tested at examination).
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S106s will continue, but in a more limited form.
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EHDC and the SDNPA have to work with infrastructure providers &
communities to decide what infrastructure is required and how best to
spend CIL revenue
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Pro-growth Neighbourhood Plans could provide a sound platform for the
identification of infrastructure and as basis for spending CIL funds