Neighbourhood Planning Relationships between Qualifying Bodies and Local Planning Authorities, Linking Neighbourhood Plans and Local Plans 13 January 2015www.pas.gov.uk

Housekeeping + Introductions

What is Planning Advisory Service for? “The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) is part of the Local Government Association. The purpose of PAS is to support local planning authorities to provide effective and efficient planning services, to drive improvement in those services and to respond to and deliver changes in the planning system” (Grant offer letter for )

Key Facts Started in 2004 Funded by DCLG 11 staff. Supplier framework. Peer community. Always subsidised. Mostly without charge. Non-judgemental. Not inspectors Respond to reform. Keep you current Support, promote, innovate

Objectives To explore the nature and characteristics of the relationships between Qualifying Bodies and Local Planning Authorities To explore common pitfalls and solutions with respect to developing, maintaining and managing the relationship with the qualifying body. To consider ways to improve on shaky relationships and fix broken relationships between qualifying bodies and local planning authorities. To share learning and develop practical advice on ongoing relationships with qualifying bodies in producing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing Neighbourhood Plans

Agenda – morning 9.45Registration and Coffee 10.00Introduction to the session 10.10Presentation 1: Managing the relationship between Local Planning Authority and the Qualifying Body – the experience of one Local Planning Authority. The Cornwall Experience Workshop 1: Discussion: Sharing experiences - What seems to characterise good relationships between QB and LPA? 11.30Coffee 11.45Workshop 2: What can we do to form good relationships with QBs? 12.30Plenary session to feedback 12.45Lunch

Agenda – afternoon 13.30Workshop 3: Keeping it fresh – how to maintain a good relationship? 14.30Feedback session 14.45Coffee 15.00Workshop 4: Managing relationships inside the LPA – other departments, electoral services 15.30Plenary session to feedback 16.00Close

Recent Policy Update Housing and Planning Bill Seeks to simplify and speed up Neighbourhood Planning In certain cases a LPA must designate whole neighbourhood area Time periods for key LPA decisions post examination Measure to help resolve disagreements between Qualifying Bodies and LPAs through SoS powers Right to be notified of planning applications

Recent Policy Update NPPF Consultation Ability to allocate appropriate small scale sites in Green Belt for Starter Homes?

Neighbourhood Planning in Cornwall Colleen O’Sullivan January 2016

CORNWALL An overview of the County

Not just beaches and fishing villages..

Geography The longest coastline of any authority in the country 2nd largest unitary authority, covering 213 Town and Parish Councils Dispersed settlement pattern, over 60% living in urban or semi-urban areas Housing, jobs and transport are consistently ranked as the top priorities by Cornish communities

Facts and Figures 532,000 people (and growing by around 1% pa) 230,000 households 697km of coastline Average property prices are 17% above national average; wages are 23% lower Overall Cornwall is not deprived but there are hotspots of deprivation Unemployment is generally low; high numbers of self- employed

Geographical and Landscape concerns 26% of Cornwall has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) 144 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), 16 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and three National Nature Reserves covering 2000ha (hectares), including 450 miles of coastline. around 400 wildlife sites of county value covering approximately 10% our land area UNESCO World Heritage Site Status in recognition of Cornwall’s Mining Heritage

The Local Plan and Neighbourhood Planning

The Local Plan - Background The Local Plan – current status and timescales Countywide planning policies are reduced to the bare minimum to simplify the planning process Local communities are being encouraged to develop their own planning policies through Neighbourhood Plans to reflect the priorities of local people and to provide an additional level of detail

Commitment to NP in the LP A strategic approach recognising the diversity of Cornwall’s communities Emphasis on Neighbourhood Planning to deliver local objectives and housing allocations outside of the larger towns. The commitment to Neighbourhood Planning as a strategic imperative is captured throughout the draft plan document. Neighbourhood Planning has a high profile and is supported at a senior level ‘It is Neighbourhood Plans that will provide an appropriate planning framework within this strategic framework while celebrating and developing the differences in character and nature across Cornwall.’ (Submission Version, Local Plan, 2015)

NDP Activity and the Cornish Approach

Areas Designated 83 Plan Proposals submitted12 Examinations completed 4 Referendums held 3

Cornwall Council Core Offer Community link officer – initial options, funding, project planning and engagement Neighbourhood planning officer – plan development, evidence base, policy writing Neighbourhood planning officer– project support, communication, consultations, toolkit, mailbox, Toolkit and guide notes Neighbourhood Planning Mailbox Training and group meetings

Guidance and Advice – our Toolkit Guidance Notes News Best Practice Links Policy Updates Details of all NDPs in Cornwall Procedural Documentation Templates planning/planning/neighbourhood-planning-toolkit /

Initial Engagement Strategy CLOs are the first point of contact Initial presentations NP Officers get involved once a decision to designate has been made

Role of the NP Officer Attendance at NP Meetings Point of contact for advice Evidence gathering Policy review and guidance Named contact for each NP group Regular contact by and phone Production of guidance etc.

Issues Lack of interest Running out of steam Understanding the work involved Clustering External factors Politics

Case Studies

St Eval Neighbourhood Plan

Roseland Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan

St Ives Neighbourhood Development Plan St Ives Area – vibrant, resilient, beautiful Affordable housing for locals; second homes Protection and enhancement of the historic and natural environment

Second Homes Many coastal communities have shown a population decline, linked with holiday / second homes. A contributing factor to high demand in Cornwall is the second home market. Around 5% of dwellings in Cornwall are second homes. However, this is not consistent and some coastal areas have a higher proportion of second homes than the average. The highest is Polzeath which has nearly 50% and areas such as St Ives, Padstow, Rock, St Mawes, Rame and Port Issac all have over 25% of dwelling stock which are second homes. This can have implications in terms of community facilities and services as well as inflating the price of houses.

Roche Parish 'Supporting a thriving Parish to meet local needs, and enhance its Character and Distinctiveness for a Sustainable Future'. Formerly industrial village in the Clay Country Unsympathetic and rapid recent growth Traffic and air quality

Questions?

Cornwall Council County Hall Truro TR1 3AY Tel:

Produce a list of positive characteristics and actions and list of pitfalls to avoid Discussion: Sharing experiences. What seems to characterise good relationships between QB and LPA?

Coffee

Produce a 10 point plan for a new relationship with a QB Workshop 2: What can we do to form good relationships with QBs?

Feedback and Q&A

Lunch

Workshop 3: Keeping it fresh – how to maintain a good relationship? How does the relationship change over time?

Feedback

Coffee

Workshop 4: Managing relationships inside the LPA – other departments, electoral services What are the issues? How might they be overcome?

Feedback Top 3 issues

Resources Suite of Locality guidance NPPG Planning Aid website PAS website, including briefing notes, FAQs, compliance checklist, Model Service Level Agreement #neighbourhoodplanning ning.org.uk

Relevant (policy based) PAS events Neighbourhood planning Viability Beyond the Duty HEDNA and SHELAA To be announced: Planning reforms

Twitter

Next Steps…. What else would you like us to do to help you? -new case study topics? -new briefing notes? -some outcome reporting – what has happened as a result of NP?

We need your feedback

Follow-up evaluation We employ a company to follow-up on our work –On reflection, was today actually useful ? –10 mins of feedback in return for £100’s of support Our board use this to decide what we do with our grant. If we don’t get positive feedback we are unlikely to continue We do note those who don’t have time to put a little back…..

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