Know your Community Rights Localism 6 months on Neighbourhood Planning Collecting the Evidence Alyson Linnegar 16 November 2012

Workshop Outline What is a neighbourhood plan What is an evidence base for your plan How to collect the evidence Neighbourhood Plan Case Study Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of a Neighbourhood Plan? Local people can decide the future of their community They can influence location of new development Influence type design and mix of new development Ask for more development Grant planning permission for development

Neighbourhood Plans Produced by Parish/Town Councils or Neighbourhood Forums Must accommodate National and Local Plan (LDF) policies Can’t block development Policies used to determine planning applications

Neighbourhood Plans -The Process Neighbourhood area is agreed with LA Collection of evidence and consultation with local community Draft plan prepared and submitted to LA Independent check by examiner Community referendum LA adopts NP as part of the ‘Local Plan’

What is an evidence base? A collection of documents, information, facts and figures which supports the development of a Local Plan (prepared by the LA) or a Neighbourhood Plan (prepared by the community) The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the requirements for a LA evidence base

What’s in an evidence base Community Consultation What are the views of the local community and how they have been addressed in the Plan Research and fact finding Evidence that the policies in the Plan are supported by facts

Why an evidence base is important It provides an up to date assessment of the local area It is required to justify the policies in the NP and that it is ‘sound’ Failure to produce an evidence base could result the NP being found ‘unsound’ at the independent examination

Examples of a LA evidence base Strategic Housing Market Assessment Annual Monitoring Report Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Landscape Character Assessment Conservation Appraisals Employment Land Study Local Transport Study

What issues may need evidence? Housing need Allocating sites for specific uses Lack of employment opportunities New community facilities Enhancing the natural and historic environment

Case Study

Tips for your evidence base Do not ignore the need for an evidence base Work with your LA at an early stage for support and advice Use existing surveys, assessments etc where available Carry out your own surveys to ‘fill the gaps’ Complement your research with community engagement

Contact details Alyson Linnegar Planning Consultancy Tel Mobile