We can help you to produce your neighbourhood plan
We can:
Give advice and support througout the process until the successful adoption of your plan
Help you write planning policies
Provide local information and evidence
Answer your questions
Email us at neighbourhoodplanning@cornwall.gov.uk
Your neighbourhood plan helps local people shape the future of their area. It can say what kind of development is supported and what is important to your community.
Talk to your community
Listening to local people is one of the most important parts of neighbourhood planning.
You should:
Talk to residents, businesses and community groups
Ask people what they like about the area and what could be improved
Use surveys, events, meetings and social media
Keep a record of what people tell you and record this in your consultation statement as you go along
Useful guides:
We also have a survey template that you can adapt to suit your area.
Gather information
Before writing your plan you will need to understand your area.
You should:
Collect information about local people, jobs, homes, nature and community facilities
Find out what is working well
Identify local issues and opportunities
Create a vision for the future
Set clear goals for what you want to achieve
Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of your places
Develop a strong vision and a set of objectives
Useful guides:
Write your neighbourhood plan
Your plan should contain planning policies that help you achieve your vision.
Policies should:
Be clear and easy to understand
Be based on evidence
Address local issues
Must not repeat national policies or policies in the Cornwall Local Plan
Not result in less homes being delivered than would be permitted under national or local plan policy
Support sutainable development
You should allocate sites for development. This helps guide development to the most suitable locations and gives you greater influence on how your area grows in the future. The sites you choose should be supported by evidence and assessed to show how they are suitable, available and achievable
Protect important green spaces. You will need evidence to show why the space is important to the community
Support the improvement of local places
Your neighbourhood plan must work alongside the Cornwall development plan including the:
Useful guides:
Environmental checks
Neighbourhood plans need environmental assessments. You should engage with environmental organisations early if your plan may affect important natural or historic assets. Early discussion can help identify environmental issues and avoid delays later in the process.
We will check whether your plan requires:
A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
A Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
Useful guides:
Share your draft neighbourhood plan
When you have written a draft plan you should test your ideas with your community as you prepare the plan. Formal consultation takes place later as part of the Regulation 14 stage.
Once you have prepared the draft plan you must carry out a Regulaton 14 consultation for at least 6 weeks. This gives local people, businesses and organisations the opportunity to comment on your proposals. Guidance on this stage is available on our next page on submitting your neighbourhood plan.
See other neighbourhood plans
You can view neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood planning activity across Cornwall on our neighbourhood planning in Cornwall webpage: