Neighbourhood development plans (NDPs)
Preparing a neighbourhood plan
Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. Communities are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided, and give an ambitious view on other projects, such as tackling climate change and helping the environment.
Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to plan for the types of development to meet their community’s needs. A neighbourhood plan should support the delivery of strategic policies set out in the Local Plan and should shape and direct development that is outside those strategic policies. However, it is absolutely critical that neighbourhood plans are not a tool to prevent development.
What are the stages of preparing a neighbourhood plan?
The following stages must be completed during the preparation of a neighbourhood plan.
- Stage 1: Area Designation
- Stage 2: Plan Preparation
- Stage 3: Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
- Stage 4: Pre-Submission Consultation
- Stage 5: Submission to the Borough Council
- Stage 6: Submission Consultation
- Stage 7: Examination
- Stage 8: Referendum
- Stage 9: The Making of the Plan and Monitoring
- Stage 10: Review
This is a simplified version of the process, and there are multiple regulations and legislation which both the qualifying body and the Borough Council must meet whilst progressing through these stages. We recommend all neighbourhood planning groups, current or potential, get in touch with the Borough Council to discuss.
Extra resources
You can find additional resources and guidance notes on neighbourhood planning on the following page: Extra resources for neighbourhood plan groups
Last updated: 16/01/2024 09:14
