Contents
- What are neighbourhood priorities statements?
- How can you start a neighbourhood priorities statement?
- Set up a neighbourhood priorities statement steering group
- How to apply for designation
- How do you show everyone you have listened to people's views?
- How do you draft your neighbourhood priorities statement?
- Where can you find other neighbourhood priorities statements?
Create a neighbourhood priorities statement (NPS) to tell us about your community's priorities for growth and change. Use our template to ensure you can influence the new Local Plan. It sets out the key issues your neighbourhood priorities statement will need to consider. Contact us at neighbourhoodplanning@cornwall.gov.uk if you need any help.
What are neighbourhood priorities statements?
A neighbourhood priorities statement is a document produced by a local council, working with its community, to set out local priorities for growth, change and investment in their area over the longer term.
Neighbourhood priorities statements were introduced by The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023 as a simpler alternative to neighbourhood plans.
They allow communities to explain:
- What matters most in their area
- How new development could benefit existing residents and
- Where growth is appropriate or inappropriate
Producing a statement is optional but all statements that meet the requirements will be published by us and will be taken into account by us when preparing the new Local Plan.
You will need to consult with local people and consultees. We have created templates to help you do this and meet any future legal requirements.
When we write the policies for the new Local Plan, we will have a legal duty to consider all published statements. We will take your priorities into account as far as possible, as we prepare the strategic direction and policies in the new Local Plan.
Tell us what your places need to thrive into the future; what should be protected and what changes would you like to see to make your local area a better place to live? We want local people to have their say and help us to deliver positive development for Cornwall in the next Cornwall Local Plan.
How can you start a neighbourhood priorities statement?
We have prepared templates and guidance to help you to produce a simple neighbourhood priorities statement.
Set up a neighbourhood priorities statement steering group
Each town or parish council is ultimately responsible for deciding whether to prepare a neighbourhood priorities statement. We recommend that you set up a steering group to drive the process and set out the objectives of the steering group using a sample terms of reference.
Include a variety of individuals and groups. A diverse group of volunteers can help to ensure your statement captures the concerns of different people.
How to apply for designation
Before a neighbourhood priorities statement can be prepared you must apply to us to designate a neighbourhood area.
The neighbourhood area will usually be the same as your parish boundary. If your boundary is different - for example if it covers more than one parish area because you have chosen to work with neighbouring councils to produce a joint statement, we will publish your application on the online planning register for at least 6 weeks. This is for local people to make comments.
Our neighbourhood priorities statement activity map shows the progress of statements across Cornwall.
How do you show everyone you have listened to people's views?
Communicating with a wide range of people is one of the most important parts of the neighbourhood priorities statement process. This ensures that the priorities in your statement reflect the views of local people.
As part of the process you will need to:
- Communicate regularly with local people to understand their hopes and ambitions for the local area
- Understand how they want their neighbourhood to evolve and the types of new development that will help to realise that vision
- Please share our planning for our future survey with your residents so they can help inform your statement
Planning for our future survey
How do you draft your neighbourhood priorities statement?
- Gather evidence on your neighbourhood area (social, economic and environmental
- Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of your places
- Attend our vision and objectives training
- Develop a strong vision and a set of objectives from our planning for our future survey and any consultation that you carry out
- We have created a template and guidance to help you to this. This gives a suggested structure for your statement. It sets out some of the key issues you will need to consider. Focus on setting out what you want to achieve
- Access our mapping service and use our map layers for your statement
The template follows the limited guidance that has been set out in the Levelling and Regeneration Act 2023 and is designed to help you to produce a simple statement identifying the priorities of the people who live in your town and parish.
Where can you find other neighbourhood priorities statements?
You can view other neighbourhood priorities statements on the following page:
Neighbourhood Priorities Statements Pilot In Cornwall