1. Interested in Neighbourhood Planning in Cotswold District?

2. Flow chart Left click on a yellow or green ‘box’ to view details,
Interested in creating a
Neighbourhood Plan for your area?
What are the issues locally?
The issues are primarily related to
Planning and infrastructure.
The issues are primarily NOT related
to Planning and infrastructure.
Consider contributing
to the
Local Plan
Consider an alternative
route, such as a
community or Parish Plan
Are you able to lead on
Neighbourhood Plan? NO
Individual or
other group
YES
Parish Council, or Neighbourhood Forum
Left click on a yellow or green ‘box’ to view details,
or the green arrow to see the following stages

3. Flow chart 2
Consider an alternative
route, such as a
community or Parish Plan
Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum
Consider contributing
to the
Local Plan
LPA decides whether proposed
neighbourhood area is acceptable
Prepare Neighbourhood Plan
Left click on a yellow, green or orange ‘box’ to view details
Submit Neighbourhood Plan to LPA, and consult appropriate bodies (defined in regulation)
Independent check
Does not meet expected standard
Community referendum
‘No’ Vote
‘Yes’ Vote
The LPA publishes the
Neighbourhood Plan, and it enters into force
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4. What are the issues? Neighbourhood Plan / Involvement within LDF
ENVIRONMENT
e.g. Refuse and recycling collection; rights of way; public open space;
wildlife; biodiversity; recycling; environmental enhancement;
energy saving schemes
Except where it relates to
change to buildings or land
What are the issues?
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL
e.g. Community; recreation; communication with local area; support for
community groups; support for older people; access to health services;
anti-social behaviour; volunteers; libraries
Except where it relates to
change to buildings or land
ECONOMY
e.g. Broadband speed, local businesses; education and skills; supporting
community activities; community shops; promoting local produce
Except where it relates to
change to buildings or land
Community Led / Parish Plan
Neighbourhood Plan / Involvement within LDF
Only if minor issues
PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
e.g. housing and employment numbers; affordable housing;
types and location; design; conservation areas; listed building,
infrastructure and services;
TRANSPORT
e.g. speeding; ‘rat runs’; bus routes and times;
hospital transport; cycling, congestion
Except where it relates to
change to buildings or land
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5. Who is able to lead on a Neighbourhood Plan?
In areas with a parish or town council, the parish or town council will take the lead on neighbourhood planning. They have long experience of working with and representing local communities.
In areas without a parish or town council, local people will need to decide which organisation should lead on coordinating the local debate. In some places, existing community groups may want to put themselves forward. In other places, local people might want to form a new group. In both cases, the group must meet some basic standards. It must, for example, have at least 21 members, and it must be open to new members.
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6. Any individuals or organisations other than town or parish councils need to contact their local town or parish council to discuss the development of a neighbourhood plan. To find contact details for the local town or parish councils go to:
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7. The Local Development Framework
The Council is preparing a planning vision for the District taking us through to 2031 – this is known as the Core Strategy. 
The Core Strategy will set out future levels and distribution of housing and economic development whilst protecting the natural and built environment and taking account of the needs and wishes of communities. 
The Core Strategy will be the key document in the Local Development Framework (LDF) which replaces the Local Plan.  Other documents that will form part of the LDF include site allocations and development management policies.  As these documents are prepared they will be subject to consultation and public comment. 
Your views as individuals and representatives of your communities are welcomed.  If you would like to receive notification of future LDF consultations and newsletter updates, please register on our consultation portal  or
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8. Local Plan Timeline
Week beginning 3 June 2013  – 19 July 2013 – public consultation on housing requirement and proposed distribution of housing including a strategic site south of Chesterton.
October – December 2013 – facilitated events to brief parishes on potential site allocations
March – May 2014 – public consultation on local plan, including development strategy, site allocations and development management policies
October – November 2014 – public consultation on pre-submission version of local plan
March 2015 – submission of local plan for independent examination and approval
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9. Community-Led / Parish Plans
A parish and community-led plan:
Sets out a vision for the future of your community
Consults with the community to identify issues and priorities
Develops an action plan which covers the issues that concern your community
Develops partnership working
Can be used to influence agencies' strategies and relates to the local development framework.
Doesn’t stop you pursuing a Neighbourhood Plan if the findings point that way!
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10. For more information, and to see a few case studies, go to:
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11. Defining the Neighbourhood
It’s the local planning authority’s job to keep an overview of all the different requests to do neighbourhood planning in their area.
They will check that the suggested boundaries for different neighbourhoods make sense and fit together. The local planning authority will say “no” if, for example, two proposed neighbourhood areas overlap.
The town or parish council or neighbourhood forum can then get going and start planning for their neighbourhood.
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12. Independent Check
Once a neighbourhood plan or order has been prepared, an independent examiner will check that it meets the right basic standards.
If the plan or order doesn’t meet the right standards, the examiner will recommend changes. The planning authority will then need to consider the examiner’s views and decide whether to make those changes.
If the examiner recommends significant changes, then the parish, town council or neighbourhood forum may decide to consult the local community again before proceeding.
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13. Community Referendum
The local council will organise a referendum on any plan or order that meets the basic standards. This ensures that the community has the final say on whether a neighbourhood plan or order comes into force.
People living in the neighbourhood who are registered to vote in local elections will be entitled to vote in the referendum.
In some special cases - where, for example, the proposals put forward in a plan for one neighbourhood have significant implications for other people nearby - people from other neighbourhoods may be allowed to vote too.
If more than 50 per cent of people voting in the referendum support the plan or order, then the local planning authority must bring it into force.
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14. Preparing the Plan
With a neighbourhood plan, communities will be able to establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood. They will be able to say, for example, where new homes and offices should be built, and what they should look like. The neighbourhood plan will set a vision for the future. It can be detailed, or general, depending on what local people want
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15. Legal Force
Once a neighbourhood plan is in force, it carries real legal weight. Decision-makers will be obliged, by law, to take what it says into account when they consider proposals for development in the neighbourhood.
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16. NEXT STEPS
Contact Cotswold District Council, to register your interest and discuss your ideas.
Tel: or
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