What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
A Neighbourhood Plan is a planning document. It contains planning policies which form part of the Local Development Plan. In Cornwall, they are generally developed by Town or Parish Councils assisted by community volunteers. We will use the policies, alongside the Cornwall Local Plan, to make decisions on planning applications.
Why are they important?
Neighbourhood Plans allow you to produce planning policies for development in your local area. Plans can decide where new homes, shops and offices are built and influence what new development looks like.
Neighbourhood planning gives you a powerful set of tools to plan for future development to meet your needs. Producing a Neighbourhood Plan is optional, you do not have to produce one.
Before you start producing a Neighbourhood Plan, it’s important to think about what you want to achieve. What are your local issues? What change does your area want to see and what would make your town, village or local area a better place to live? A Neighbourhood Plan must:
- Take into account local and national planning policy
- Contribute to the achievement of sustainable development
A neighbourhood plan should not be used to prevent development but can ensure that new development helps to deliver your area's vision and objectives.
How long does it take to create one?
In our experience, Neighbourhood Plans take at least 2 years to prepare but can take 5 years or more from start to finish. A significant amount of time and effort, usually by your volunteers, goes into the development of every Neighbourhood Plan.
We offer advice at every stage of the Neighbourhood Plan process, from help on deciding whether it is the right option for your area, help with policy writing to evidence gathering. Contact us at neighbourhoodplanning@cornwall.gov.uk to arrange a time to discuss your Neighbourhood Plan.
Locality Neighbourhood Planning has a step by step roadmap guide to creating a neighbourhood plan and a video. We have produced a simple guide for the stages in the plan making process. Our content and policies page covers neighbourhood plan policy writing.
What is a Neighbourhood Development Order?
A Neighbourhood Development Order is a form of planning permission. It grants outline or full planning permission in a neighbourhood area for specific types of development without the need to submit a planning application to us. It can be unconditional or subject to conditions for example obtaining approval from us on matters of detail or specifying the period within which applications must be carried out. They can shape where building can go and what it will look like.
Why are they important?
They can speed up the planning process. They provide certainty to developers on things like conditions and infrastructure requirements. They can support regeneration and site allocations for employment and housing.
How long does it take to create one?
The process is like creating a neighbourhood plan so you can use the preparing a neighbourhood plan toolkit to guide you through the process.
We can advise and help. We pay for the examination and referendum (public vote).
Locality Neighbourhood Planning has a neighbourhood development orders toolkit for creating a Neighbourhood Development Order. We have produced a simple guide for the stages in the plan making process. Our content and policies page covers neighbourhood policy writing.
What is a Neighbourhood Priorities Statement?
A neighbourhood priorities statement (NPS) is a simple, easy-to-create planning document that lets local communities have a real say in how their area grows and develops - without needing to prepare a full neighbourhood plan.
It's a chance for you to tell us what matters most to you:
- Where new homes or development should go
- What local facilities or infrastructure need improving
- Which green spaces, views, heritage sites or landscapes deserve protection
By gathering local knowledge, an NPS helps ensure that any new development is well-designed, benefits your community and enhances the character of the area.
Why is it important?
Not everyone has the time or resources to help to create a full neighbourhood plan. An NPS offers a much more accessible and streamlined alternative. It still gives communities a strong voice and is a great way to have an early say on future growth in Cornwall.
We will use these statements as we prepare the new Local Plan. That means your views can help to shape the planning polices that will guide development across the county for the next 20 years.
How long does it take to create one?
Not long at all. Most neighbourhood priorities statements take as little as 6 months to put together.
Because the process is simple and doesn't involve independent examinations or environmental screening, it's a quick and community-friendly way to influence how your area changes in the future.