1. West of England Rural Network Network
Community Led Planning in South Gloucestershire A Neighbourhood Plan for Thornbury?
Dick Whittington, WERN

2. Who Are WERN?
A Registered Charity working across the four Unitary Authorities of West of England
One of 38 County based “Rural Community Councils” affiliated to ACRE
Working with communities to support and foster community-led action and promote long-term sustainability of local services
Commissioned by South Glos Council to support Community Led Planning
Working with Neighbourhood Plan groups – Charfield, Pucklechurch

3. WEST OF ENGLAND JOINT SPATIAL PLAN
85,000 houses needed by 2036
47,000 already planned
Supporting 88,000 new jobs
“to manage growth whilst maintaining our quality of life, beautiful coast and countryside”

4. South Gloucestershire Council Core Strategy
Another 1,000 houses required just to meet Five Year Housing supply.
Much of the rural area now exposed
Green Belt could be subject to review
Rewrite of South Glos Local Plan – 2018?
Open season for developers meanwhile?

5. Focus for Development? Much of our area restricted by
Green Belt
AONB
Flood plain
“Sustainable Communities”
Range of services eg Schools, Shops, Health
Public Transport links
So limited options for development
Yate Sodbury
Northern Fringe
Charfield
Thornbury

6. So what can communities do?
Complain to your MP?
Lobby the new Metro Mayor?
Write to the papers?
Protest?
Move house ? (but where to?)
Come up with your own Plan……?

7. Neighbourhood Plans Localism Act 2011
Development Focus – Statutory weight
Subject to Examination & Referendum…..
…so process and evidence is very important
NOT an opportunity to say NO to development….(must be “in general conformity” with Local Plan & NPPF)
….Opportunity to channel development in the right direction?
Charfield Appeal demonstrated need for protection against random development

8. How can a Neighbourhood Plan help?
NOT a mechanism for blocking development (must be consistent with National and Local Plans)
CAN exert influence on
Scale of development
Location
Type/Purpose
Design

9. How can a Neighbourhood Plan help? Part 2
SHOULD Identify Infrastructure needs
Services
Traffic
Community
Note also increased proportion of CIL payable to local communities with a completed Neighbourhood Plan

10. Neighbourhood Plans – Key Steps
Assess community support
Define Neighbourhood (SGC consultation)
Establish project team
Community engagement – key themes
Consider Housing Needs Survey
Develop draft priorities and policies
Community Consultation
Finalise Plan
Independent Examination Evidence is Key!
Public Referendum

11. Define Neighbourhood Whole of Thornbury Parished area?
Part of Thornbury?
Thornbury plus neighbouring settlement(s)?
Subject to Consultation through South Glos Council (six week process)
But if limited to whole Parish then consultation not required

12. Community Engagement Critical at all stages
Publicity
Events
Surveys
etc
Wide range of stakeholders – residents, workers, landowners, service providers, others with an interest
What are the key issues?
Consultation on priorities and policies
Evidence is a key issue for the Examiner
Plan has to pass Referendum

13. Preparing the Plan Baseline information
Evidence of stakeholder needs and views
Evidence of engagement and consultation
Identify and assess options
Consider environmental impacts etc
Draft specific Policies

14. Formal Consultation Local Authority
Reviewed by Local Authority, including check against relevant legislation
Representations invited
Consultation with appropriate bodies
Responses considered and amendments made if necessary
Submitted to Independent Examiner

15. Independent Examination
Appointed from list of qualified examiners
Representations invited but Examination undertaken in private (generally)
Examiner reaches conclusion, may include amendments agreed with Neighbourhood Plan group
Report issued
Local Authority can then send the Plan to Referendum

16. Referendum Process managed by Local Authority
Polling arrangements as per Elections
Simple majority required
If so, final check v European legislation and Human rights
…and FINALLY the Plan is made (ie becomes part of the statutory planning process alongside the Local Plan.

17. Timescales? Getting started 1 month Define Neighbourhood 1 month
Initial engagement 3 months
Options Appraisal 6 months
Policy development 4 months
Local Authority Consultation 3 months
Examination 3 months
Referendum 3 months

18. Resources Required Parish Council Leadership
Project Team 8 – 12 people with mix of skills and interests ( at least 2 Councillors)
Funding (available from Locality - £9,000 standard) - for expert consultancy, public events, surveys, printing etc
Independent Examination and Referendum – costs met by Local Authority
Time, Effort, Persistence – allow 18 months +

19. Tough Challenge, but Support is available
Funding via Locality
Local Authority has responsibility to support and advise, but
Very limited resources
Relatively little experience of Neighbourhood Plans
WERN can provide some support
Process governance and engagement
External experience
Experience of Plans elsewhere in West of England
Backwell, Long Ashton, Bishop Sutton etc
Bristol?
Other Plans in South Gloucestershire
Charfield well under way
Pucklechurch started late 2016
Oldbury on Severn

20. Some Issues
Time – at least 18 months, in practice maybe two years or more
Absence of valid Local Plan – what are we in conformity with?
West of England JSP adds extra level
Will any weight be given to Plans in progress?
Does South Gloucestershire’s lack of Five Year Housing Supply mean it gets over-ruled?