We can help you by:
- Providing you with advice and support at all stages of the process until the successful adoption of your plan
- Help you write the policies for your neighbourhood plan
- Help with evidence and data
- Give you access to mapping services and direct you to our NDP guidance
- Answer your questions about preparing a neighbourhood plan. Email us at neighbourhoodplanning@cornwall.gov.uk
As part of the plan making process, you will need to:
- Engage with your community to understand their hopes and ambitions for the local area.
- Understand how they want it to evolve and the types of new development that will help to realise that vision
Locality Engaging with your community in a meaningful way
- Gather data and evidence on your neighbourhood plan area (social, economic and environmental).
- Analyse strengths and weaknesses
- Draft the plans vision and objectives
- Draft planning policies to help you achieve the visions and objectives of the neighbourhood plan. We have created a new example neighbourhood plan template for Parishes. This gives a suggested structure for neighbourhood plans. It sets out some of the key issues your neighbourhood plan will need to consider
- Publicise the draft neighbourhood plan to people who live, work and run businesses in the area.
- Update the plan based on the feedback that you receive.
Cornwall Local Plan
You will need to provide robust evidence to support your plan. The best place to start is with the Cornwall Local Plan which covers the period up to 2030. The Council must consider every five years whether the plan remains up to date. This is in accordance with Regulation 10a of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2017. The most recent review was accepted by Cabinet on 22nd September 2021. It concluded that the Plan remains up to date and continues to carry full weight in decision-making:
You can find other adopted plans here:
- Cornwall Local Plan (2016) Saved Policies
- Cornwall Site Allocations DPD Examination Library
- Minerals Safeguarding DPD
- Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
Climate Emergency DPD
The Climate Emergency DPD (CEDPD) now forms part of the local development plan for Cornwall. The policies in the plan will help us to act on climate change by using them to make decisions on all planning applications in Cornwall. The DPD has policies on things like renewable energy and sustainable buildings. Policies also encourage wildlife and trees and will help to manage flood risk.
All new neighbourhood plan policies will need to be in conformity with the policies in the Local Plan and the CEDPD. For existing NDPs, where there is a conflict with a policy in your neighbourhood plan, the policies in the CEDPD will take precedence. You may want to review the policies in the CEDPD so that you are aware of any such conflict.
If you need more advice, please get in touch at neighbourhoodplanning@cornwall.gov.uk.
Your neighbourhood plan should support sustainable development. It should also consider social, economic and environmental objectives. If it doesn't, your plan may run into difficulties at the examination stage:
National Planning Policy Framework
Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA)
You may need an SEA if development supported in your plan could have significant environmental effects. We will screen your plan at an early stage to let you know whether you need a SEA. If your plan does need SEA, funding is usually available for this but it may add time to the process.
Understand if your plan requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment guide note
Community engagement
Community engagement with a wide range of people is important throughout the whole plan process. This ensures that the policies in your plan reflect the views of your community and that they will support it at referendum.
You can view other neighbourhood plans across Cornwall on the following page:
