Neighbourhood Planning: Collected Articles From The Neighbourhood Planning Blog

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING Collected articles from the neighbourhood planning blog1, March 2011 April 2012 Neighbourhood Planning one year on: Current practice and the role for urban design
Posted on July 3, 2012 An edited version of this paper appears in issue 123 of Urban Design, the Journal of the Urban Design Group. The concept of Neighbourhood Planning was launched by the Government to much fanfare at the end of 2010. It was to signal a brave new dawn for planning, providing a very real opportunity to deliver meaningful change at a local level. Indeed, it was to provide an opportunity for local residents and groups to actually lead the plan-making process. Many early commentators suggested that localism would be no more than a charter for Nimbyism. That certainly wasnt Governments intention. They saw it as a way of helping to deliver growth and development. As Greg Clark MP put it: When people know that they will get proper support to cope with the demands of new development; when they have a proper say over what new homes will look like; and when they can influence where those homes go, they have reasons to say yes to growth. Now more than a year on and with the Localism Act about to be rolled out in full, what has actually happened? In early 2011, applications were invited from CLG for a dozen or so Neighbourhood Planning Vanguards, who were to test the new approach before the Localism Bill became enacted. The Vanguards quickly became rebranded as the Frontrunners and expanded in number from a dozen to 208 through five bidding rounds, each receiving 20,000 in funding. With the Localism Bill becoming an Act in November 2011, and with relevant parts of that being rolled out in April this year, it is perhaps a good time to see where we are and what lessons, if any, have been learnt and can be learned from the first year of Neighbourhood Planning, and, for the purposes of this article, is there a role for urban design in the process? IS IT A NEW DAWN? Is Neighbourhood Planning actually the new dawn we were led to believe? The answer has to be both yes and no. Locally driven and responsive plans have been embedded in
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www.neighbourhoodplanning.info
the plan-making system since 1947. In the third reading of the Town & Country Planning Bill, 1947, Lord Silkin wrote: It is not merely landowners in the area who are affected or even business interests. Too often in the past the objections of a noisy minority have been allowed to drown the voices of other people vitally affected. These too must have their say, and when they have had it, the provisional plan may need a good deal of alteration, but it will be all the better for that since it will reflect actual needs democratically expressed. In the past, plans have been too much the plans of officials and not the plans of individuals, but I hope we are going to stop that. This aspiration has, to some degree, been taken forward by the many village plans, parish plans and community planning statements that have been prepared across the country. These provide a good basis for the production of Neighbourhood Plans. But perhaps the real difference between these and what is now proposed is that the Neighbourhood Plan will (if found sound) form part of the statutory development plan. The wishes of the community, as expressed through the Neighbourhood Plan, will thus now carry very real weight. Here though is the challenge. For the Neighbourhood Plan to be adopted as part of the development plan, it needs to be robust and justified, it needs to have the support of the community and it needs to stand up to scrutiny at examination. And, before you even get going, you need the support of the local authority. So, how do you achieve all these things? What has been happening to date? THE FRONTRUNNERS A Neighbourhood Plan can cover many things. It can (and perhaps should) include a vision of what the area should be in the future, it can include general principles and planning policies, identify development and opportunity sites, establish the scale and location of growth, and establish design parameters. It would seem there is plenty of scope for urban design here. But what is happening in practice? Last year, SKM Colin Buchanan surveyed those applicants[i] who had successfully received funding from the first four waves of the Governments Frontrunner programme. These first four waves account for 126 of the frontrunners. We had responses from 45, spread across the country, in towns and villages, parished and unparished areas. We received feedback on who the neighbourhood planners are, how the plan is being funded, what challenges, or issues are being faced, and what lessons have been and can be learnt. Some of the key messages emerging from this were:
The vast majority of frontrunner neighbourhood plans are being led by communities only five of the 45 which responded were local authority led. So, the community is taking the opportunity forward. Many have spent time early in the process establishing effective governance, including involving local politicians. Many groups have a head start in this and
are able to make use of groups and forums, their outreach, governance structures and any community-led plans previously prepared. They are an excellent basis for taking the process forward. The findings of the work to date also suggest that project plans and terms of reference for the Forum or Steering Group should be established at the outset. Strong leaders should be identified and the groups leading the process should try and involve all, including business and developers. Most respondents were unclear as to what the core purpose of their neighbourhood plan will be and what form it will take beyond the inclusion of general policies and principles. This is perhaps not surprising, given that many have spent time to date setting up the administrative framework within which the forum should operate and consulting on issues and potential opportunities. The final form and content of the plan will emerge over time. However, this does raise issues about resourcing: a detailed masterplan for example might be visionary and engaging, but may also involve more technical and professional inputs and, importantly, costs. Conversely nearly all were absolutely clear what their plan will not include. More than 60% of the respondents said their plan would not include information on the mix and quantum of development for the area. There is a huge variety of approaches being followed by the frontrunners and this should please ministers but it remains unclear what some plans will actually deliver. Unsurprisingly, the biggest challenges are time and resources for the groups preparing the plans. Lack of knowledge and understanding of the planning system was also cited as an obstacle. Most of those who responded said that communities lack resources and expertise. The question here is how local authorities will provide support. The Neighbourhood Plan process requires commitment, time and resources. The majority of respondents see the process from commencement to submission for examination taking at least 18 months. Given experience of the LDF system, how many communities will have the stamina for an 18 month neighbourhood plan process? Add in the examination process and the referendum and this could be longer. How many will make it to the finish line? Funding is generally being spread between officer support and passing directly to the Parish or Neighbourhood Forum. Some earmarked the funding for document production, the examination and referendum. Funding is thus being spread thinly and there are concerns as to how the overall process will be funded. Local authorities should identify and provide sufficient resources to help the process.
These are all worthy of in-depth debate and discussion in their own right. It would appear that most have spent time to date establishing the appropriate framework for developing the Plan, i.e.: the governance structures, roles, responsibilities and relationships with the local authority. This is all well and good, but it does mean that many of those responding to our survey have spent time on that rather than on the plan itself. This could in part be a reflection of the guidance, or lack thereof, from CLG on how a Neighbourhood Plan should be prepared and what should be in it. It does also mean that the actual time taken for production of the plan could be quite long.
Experience of preparing Core Strategies and LDF documents would suggest that a quicker process is needed, particularly if the interest of unpaid members of the community, who are ultimately responsible for the Plan, is to be maintained. If interest is to be maintained, can a design based Plan prove to be a successful route to take? Although many of the respondents to the survey suggested their plan would not include a masterplan or design guidance, nearly all acknowledged that it is the design aspects that can excite and engage, and, importantly, help communicate issues and opportunities. So, is there a role for the designer? IS THERE A ROLE FOR THE URBAN DESIGNER? Although most respondents to our survey suggested that their Neighbourhood Plan will not comprise a masterplan nor include any design guidance, they dont actually need to. It may well be that the Core Strategy or Local Plan for that area provides sufficient detail on these matters and, if not addressed in the Neighbourhood Plan, they will continue to take precedence. There are though some (more limited) Neighbourhood Plans that are seeking to provide design guidance and masterplans, and where this is the case, respondents to our survey indicated a real need for skills and advice to assist in this. This suggests the involvement of the urban designer will be down to the nature and content of the plan. I dont think it is quite that simple. In some Neighbourhood Plans, for example, the future of the High Street or local centre is the focus of the Plan. On one level this might look at the type and mix of activities present. Some Plans are for example focussing on the preponderance of fast-food outlets and betting shops. But, dig a little deeper, and issues of grain, scale, adaptability and public realm quality start coming to the fore. These are issues that might not be fully understood but which are important principles for the making of good places. They are issues that can be drawn out and explored through the design process. Indeed, it is the design element, and involvement in this, that often excites people more than any other part of the plan making process, bringing communities together, helping to create a sense of ownership, transparency and ownership over the plan. It is the design process that can help visually communicate issues and opportunities, help lay public understand, be excited and engaged. So why then, does experience from the Frontrunners suggest that those Plans coming forward might not include much by the way of design? It might be due to a lack of skills or understanding, or it might just be that the Neighbourhood Planners havent got that far yet. A recent London Assembly report[ii] however highlighted what it terms the capacity gap in neighbourhood planning. It highlights the often bureaucratic and multi-layered planning process and technical knowledge needed to navigate this, the lack of mutual trust that often exists between communities and officers, the lack of skills that often exist within the profession to facilitate and engage with communities. But going further than this, it is perhaps fair to say that it is not just an understanding of the planning process
that is lacking, but also the role and function of urban design. And this might be why few of the Frontrunners are embedding design into their Plan. Some places have though been fortunate in that they benefit from having a pool of professional skills and resources residing in their Neighbourhoods and who are contributing to the Plan, helping address the skills deficit. The Chatsworth Road Neighbourhood Plan in London is a good case in point. This is perhaps the frontrunner ahead of the frontrunners. It has no central Government funding but has made great strides, drawing upon skills residing within the plan area but also making full use of social media and other engagement techniques to involve as many as possible. Here, a set of propositions and over-arching aspirations have been used as a way of exploring issues and opportunities. These use simple and easily understood concepts to introduce planning and design principles and help people think differently about a place. So, those that dont really understanding urban design can, through this approach, get a real feel for good place making principles. If we take the example from Chatsworth Road of our neighbourhood will embrace a diverse range of people and uses, this, in urban design terms, can lead to considerations about the scale, footprint, flexibility and adaptability of buildings. Our neighbourhood will be easy and safe to get around leads to considerations about legibility, active building frontages, mix of uses, public realm and the balance between vehicular and pedestrian movement. The challenge here is that some of these considerations lead to long term solutions and these might not necessarily tie up with community aspirations which, given the potentially short life span of a forum (which might only exist for five years), may focus on short term change and quick wins. The professional can help here: although it is important to develop locally specific change that is deliverable in the short term, an understanding of the bigger picture and longer term thinking is important. Here the professional can bring the macro and micro scale thinking. Euan Mills, who is leading the Chatsworth Road plan, espouses the concept of design thinking. Not necessarily a linear approach, it allows problems to be framed, the right questions to be asked, more ideas to be created, and then the best solutions selected. It removes the making of judgements from the early stages, so encourages a greater degree of involvement by all. Elsewhere, storytelling is being considered as a simple yet interesting and engaging way to present the challenges and future opportunities for an area. (Design Council) Cabe has been promoting this approach to the production of LDF documents for some time[iii]. The urban designer has a big role to play here. Well illustrated plans, strong on visual communication, will help understand why local character and identity is important, understand spatial implications of change, provide clarity and the means to understand what is proposed or should take place and why. There clearly is a role for the urban designer, but that role might need to change[iv] in response to localism and neighbourhood planning, with the traditional role of the planner
/ urban designer been redefined, from one of planning and managing change to one of facilitation and communication. It requires much more by way of engagement, mediation, assistance and even education. But perhaps with any of these things, the role and involvement of the urban designer will all depend on the availability of funding. In the current climate, with funding limited or even non-existent, Neighbourhood Planning perhaps provides scope for built environment professionals to make their contribution to the big society.
[i] Our survey was sent to the local authorities where neighbourhood plans have been funded through the frontrunner programme. Although they may not actually be leading the process, they were the qualifying body and recipient of Government money. [ii] London Assembly, February 2012, Beyond Consultation: The role of neighbourhood plans in supporting local involvement in planning [iii] Cabe, 2009, Planning for Places: Delivering Good Design through Core Strategies [iv] SKM Colin Buchanan, January 2011, The Challenges Ahead: How should the planning profession respond?
How many different types of Neighbourhood Plan are there?

Posted on May 31, 2012 Many wondered early on what should be in the neighbourhood plan and what form it should take. Should it include a comprehensive masterplan and design guidance for individual sites? Could it present generic principles for the future of the area? Could it focus on a single issue? At previous presentations and conferences CLG confirmed it could be any and all of these. Indeed, analysis of the frontrunners by CLG, has pointed to six different types of plan that are emerging. They include: Mini Local Plans:

Comprehensive coverage of policy issues Allocate development sites for wide range of uses
Policy and Allocation Plans:
Neighbourhood plans covering a narrower range of issues
Often theme specific Allocate development sites for narrow range of uses
Single Policy Document:
Neighbourhood Plan covering a single policy issue (e.g.: protection of green space)
Policy Plans:

Neighbourhood Plans covering a broad range of policy issues No site allocations Similar to parish plans Augment local plan policy
Neighbourhood Development Order (Minor development):

Residential minor development (e.g.: house extensions, windows) Town centre change of use / minor changes signage Business park / industrial estate minor development
Neighbourhood Development Order (Site specific)
Development of a particular site (e.g.: small housing scheme under Community right to Build)
For more on this, see the presentations made at the recent Planning Aid London event.
NPPF: Briefing
Posted on March 30, 2012 What is the NPPF? The NPPF sets out national planning policies for England. These apply with immediate effect. The NPPF reduces and distils over 1,000 pages of policy across more than 40 documents into just 59 pages. The intention is that this will lead to a simpler, more accessible planning system while aiming to strengthen local decision making and reinforce the importance of up-to-date plans. It supersedes and replaces almost all previous national planning policy statements (PPS) and planning policy guidance notes (PPG). One notable exception is PPS 10 on waste which remains in force until the National Waste Management Plan for England is published. The Government has also signalled its intention to revoke Regional 7
Strategies. This will happen as soon as the environmental assessment of that decision has been completed. The NPPF does not address nationally significant infrastructure projects, which will be set out in national policy statements for major infrastructure. What is Sustainable Development? The NPPF introduces a presumption in favour of sustainable development. This is the golden-thread now running through the new guidance. If it can be demonstrated that proposed development is sustainable and fits with local policy then it should have a good chance of being approved. The NPPF goes back to the high level 1987 Bruntland Report definition of sustainable development which talks about meeting todays needs without compromising the needs of future generations. It also refers to the five guiding principles established in the 2005 UK Sustainable Development Strategy, being (1) living with the planets environmental limits; (2) ensuring a strong, healthy and just society; (3) achieving a sustainable economy; (4) promoting good governance; and (5) using sound science responsibly. Sustainable development will be achieved through implementation of policies set out in paragraphs 18 through 219 of the NPPF. Underpinning this is the need to improve the quality of life, the natural, built and historic environment. What are the Key Messages? Housing and Development

Local planning authorities should plan to meet the full, objectively assessed housing needs for the area. Local Planning authorities should continue to identify a five year supply of deliverable land for housing. An additional buffer of 5% should also be identified, although this is increased to 20% where there is a history of under performance in terms of housing development. Local authorities can include an element of windfall development in their fiveyear supply if there is compelling evidence that such sites have consistently come forward and will continue to. New settlements or extensions to villages and towns that follow the principles of Garden Cities might help deliver the supply of new homes. Planning policies should encourage the re use of previously developed, brownfield land. Locally appropriate targets for the use of brownfield land can be set by the local authority. Protection of the green belt remains, though the quality of green belt land should be enhanced. Green belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances or through review of the Local Plan.
Local and Neighbourhood Plans should develop robust and comprehensive design policies. Local design review panels should be set up. Applications of a poor design should be refused.
Economy

Significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth through the planning system. The sequential test for planning applications for town centre uses in out of centre locations should be applied. Planning policies should avoid the long term protection of sites allocated for employment uses where there is no prospect of a site being used for that purpose.
Environment
LPAs should aim to minimise pollution and other adverse effects on the local and natural environment. Plans should allocate land with the least environmental or amenity value. A new Local Plan designation for Local Green Space will enable communities to rule out development other than in very special circumstances. The presumption in favour of sustainable development (paragraph 14 of the NPPF) does not apply where development requiring appropriate assessment under the Birds or Habitats Directives is being considered, planed or determined. Smarter use of technologies should be investigated in order to reduce the need to travel
Flood Risk, Climate Change and Energy
Local planning authorities should adopt proactive strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, flood risk, coastal change and water supply. The sequential and exception tests for development in areas at risk of flooding remains. Further guidance on this is provided in the accompanying Technical Guidance document along with some mineral policies transferred from MPG Renewable and low carbon energy generation is seen as central to future sustainable development. LPAs are required to identify areas as suitable for renewable and low-carbon energy development, and make clear what criteria have determined their selection, including for what size of development the areas are considered suitable.
What are the implications for Local Plans? The NPPF reinforces the principles of the plan-led system. Planning decisions should be taken in accordance with the Local Plan, unless material considerations suggest otherwise. Where a Local Plan is absent, silent or out-of-date,
planning permission should be granted unless it does not comply with the policies contained within the NPPF. The NPPF encourages the production of a single Local Plan; and Supplementary Planning Documents where justified. These should not place additional financial burdens on developers. Only policies that provide a clear indication of how a development proposal will be reacted to by decision makers should be included in the Plan. Local Planning Authorities have twelve months from publication of the NPPF to bring existing plans into conformity with the NPPF. In the meantime, full weight will be given to adopted Plans, on the basis that there is only a limited degree of conflict with NPPF LPAs should collaborate with neighbouring authorities on cross boundary issues, particularly in terms of housing and infrastructure matters. What should be in the Local Plan? Local Plans should reflect the vision and objectives of the local community. They should set out policies that guide how the presumption in favour of sustainable development should be applied at the district level and they should encourage local people to bring neighbourhood plans forward. Local organisations, communities and businesses thus need to be proactively engaged in the production of the Local Plan. Local Plans will continue to be subject to independent examination. They will be assessed against the duty to cooperate on cross boundary issues, legal and procedural requirements. A Plan will be found sound if can be demonstrated that it has been positively prepared, is justified, effective and consistent with the NPPF. The Local Plan should identify broad locations for strategic development, allocate sites to promote development and the flexible use of land, identify any areas where development would be inappropriate and contain strategies for enhancing the environment. They should contain a proposals map.
London Assembly recommendations for Neighbourhood Planning

Posted on February 24, 2012 The London Assembly (Planning & Housing Committee) report of its investigation into the role of neighbourhood plans in supporting local involvement in planning was published yesterday. Snappily title Beyond Consultation and avaliable for download here, it sets out seven recommendations. Although primarily focused on the Capital,
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there will be some relevance to those operating in other parts of the country. In particular, we look forward to the publication of any future guidance material based on the findings of the frontrunners. We have of course already pulled some lessons together from those (here), though there is still some way to go before any of the frontrunners get to the finishing line. The recommendations, all sensible, are: Recommendation 1 The Mayor should produce best practice guidance based on the results of the early frontrunner schemes and other neighbourhood planning initiatives in London that highlight the range of ways to define a neighbourhood and set out how difficulties have been dealt with in different locations. Recommendation 2 The Mayor should look to include neighbourhood planning in future OAPFs, and clarify how neighbourhood level planning issues can usefully be considered within OAPFs in his Draft SPG, providing advice to local authorities and communities in that regard. Recommendation 3 As neighbourhood planning places additional demands upon stretched local authority resources, we recommend that the Local Government Association review the role of local councillors in neighbourhood planning and set out some guidelines on what role councillors can, as a minimum, be expected to play. Recommendation 4 Local authorities and neighbourhood forums should seek an open dialogue on how the government grants for front runner schemes and other neighbourhood planning initiatives are best spent, and what additional funding or support can be provided. Recommendation 5 London Boroughs should also consider reviewing how they can adjust their current structure and approach to support neighbourhood planning, given the constraints of resources and workload. Once the impact and results from examples become evident for example, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelseas new planning team structure these could be used as best practice. Recommendation 6 We recommend that all groups and forums should assess their own strengths and weaknesses against a number of factors including leadership skills, planning knowledge, access to information and communication skills.
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Recommendation 7 The Mayor should support existing networks of community and voluntary organisations, boroughs and other interested parties in setting up a neighbourhood planning network to support and encourage exploratory work. A scoping meeting to discuss steps forward should take place after the Mayoral election.
The Portas Review and Neighbourhood Planning

Posted on December 14, 2011 Subject to much hype and fanfare, the Portas Review (An independent review into the future of our high streets) was published yesterday. For those of you interested in Neighbourhood Planning, here are some of the highlights, and some early thoughts, which well add to in due course:

A high profile campaign should be run to get people involved in Neighbourhood Planning The inclusion of the High Street in Neighbourhood Plans should be promoted Establish Town Teams to establish a future vision and strategy for High Streets Empower Business Improvement Districts to take on more responsibilities and powers
Neighbourhood planning is thus very much to the fore. Inclusion of a High Street in the Neighbourhood Plan will of course depend on the area covered by the plan. This has been much debated on this blog and elsewhere. There is a certain logic to having the High Street as the focus and heart of the Neighbourhood Plan, but some plans will focus on residential areas and business districts. Perhaps the bigger point being made here is that for those places that do include a centre of some sort, the very important social and economic role and function of that centre should be recognised and strengthened. This then leads to the representative nature of the Neighbourhood Forum that should be responsible for taking the Plan forward. The draft neighbourhood planning regulations make it clear that these need to include a cross section of all people and organisations in the area; so for a High Street, that will inevitably include business organisations and traders. The key here is to take a partnership-led approach to delivering change and improvement. There is no reason why a BID shouldnt be part of this, and indeed, some of the front runners are following this model see for example Bankside in London. The review recognises that consultation needs to move away from the noisy minority. Truly representative Neighbourhood Forums and interesting, engaging consultation techniques can help. Consultation methods followed in the Town Team model (developed originally by Yorkshire Forward and rolled out successfully in many other places across the country) have created charters, built capacity and created a lasting
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legacy for the quality of place. There is no reason why these methods cant be employed by the Neighbourhood Forum.
Need to know what and who a Neighbourhood Forum is?

Posted on November 15, 2011 We have been asked by a few people what a Neighbourhood Forum is. For those of you that have read the draft Neighbourhood Planning Regs, you will have noted that it points you to Section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. What it really means is Section 61F of the Localism Bill. In summary, that states that a Neighbourhood Forum can be designated if the local authority is satisfied that it has been established for the purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of an area. The Forum should have a written constitution and should comprise a minimum of 21 people. All of the members should:

live in the neighbourhood area subject to the plan; work in the neighbourhood area; or be an elected member of a council body within which the plan area falls.
Membership of the Forum is open to individuals who satisfy one of the three criteria above. The Forum should draw its membership from different places in the neighbourhood area concerned and from different sections of the community in that area. The Forum will be designated for a period of five years, although the plan period may be longer than this. The local authority can de-designate a Forum before the five year period has come to an end if it ceases to fulfill the criteria set out above. The Forum and associated Plan area can straddle authority boundaries, but that raises questions about the duty to cooperate and general conformity to policies in different Core Strategies or Local Plans. But that is one for another day.
Neighbourhood Planning: Lessons from the Frontrunners

Posted on November 10, 2011 There are 126 Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunners and a further fifth wave of funding will be announced soon. The frontrunner programme was intended to test this new approach to planning before the Localism bill is enacted. That now appears imminent.
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So how have the frontrunners been approaching the process, what have they spent the funding on and what advice would they give to others? Our survey, undertaken at the end of October 2011 sought to find out. Responses were received from 45 of the frontrunners, representing an excellent cross section of authorities across the country. Key Findings:

The vast majority of frontrunner neighbourhood plans are being led by communities only 5 of the 45 which responded were local authority led. Most respondents are unclear what the core purpose of their neighbourhood plan will be and what form it will take beyond the inclusion of general policies and principles. Conversely nearly all were absolutely clear what their plan will not include. For example more than 60% of the respondents said their plan would not include information on the mix and quantum of development for the area. However, more than 80% of respondents said that resistance to growth was not a challenge for them. In rural parished areas it is proving much more straightforward to define neighbourhood plan boundaries than in unparished urban locations. Unsurprisingly, the biggest challenges are time and resources for the groups preparing the plans. Lack of knowledge and understanding of the planning system was also cited as an obstacle. Establishing effective governance including involvement of local politicians is seen as an important task at the outset of the plan making process. The majority of respondents see the process from commencement to submission for examination taking at least 18 months. Funding is generally being spread between officer support and passing directly to the Parish or Neighbourhood Forum. Some earmarked the funding for document production, the examination and referendum.
Issues Arising:
There is a huge variety of approaches being followed by the frontrunners and this should please ministers but it remains unclear what some plans will actually deliver. Few of the frontrunners appear to be planning for growth i.e.: establishing higher development targets than established in local plans. How many communities will have the stamina for an 18 month neighbourhood plan process? Add in the examination process and the referendum and this could be longer. How many will make it to the finish line? Most of those who responded said that communities lack resources and expertise how will local authorities be able to help? Will they provide dedicated support through Neighbourhood Planning officers?
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Neighbourhood Planning provides plenty of opportunities for built environment professionals with knowledge of the planning system to make their contribution to the big society.
Some Tips:

Agree a project plan and terms of reference for the Forum or Steering Group at the outset. Identify a timetable for production of the plan. Identify strong leaders who can drive the process forward. Try and involve all in the process: think partnership dont be afraid to speak to businesses and developers. Make use of social media and other outreach techniques to engage with as much as the community as possible. Make use of existing groups and forums, their outreach, governance structures and any community-led plans previously prepared. They are an excellent basis for taking the process forward. Make use of CLG funding and advice, particularly those that have been awarded funding expressly for that purpose, but also make use of the wealth of free material published and on-line. Consider whether a Neighbourhood Plan is the right vehicle for what you want to achieve. Identify any and all policy issues that might need considering in the Plan, particularly those where issues of general conformity might arise. Local authorities should identify and provide sufficient resources to help the process.
Notes: As qualifying bodies for the CLG frontrunner funding, the survey purposely focussed on local authorities Surveys were sent to all 126 frontrunners. Responses were received from 45: representing a 36% response rate. Responses were received from across the country, in both rural and urban areas, parished and unparished. CLG have announced four rounds, or waves, of funding for Neighbourhood Planning rontrunners. The deadline for submissions for a fifth wave was 5 November. Four organisations have received funding from CLG to assist communities in planning: Planning Aid, Locality, NALC and the Princes Foundation.
Neighbourhood Planning: Be Brave, Be Bold

Posted on November 2, 2011
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.so said the CLGs Chief Planner at the RTPI conference on Neighbourhood Planning in London yesterday. The conference, which centred on the whats and hows of neighbourhood planning, highlighted a series of key messages. It was re-iterated that it is a pro-growth agenda and that neighbourhood planning is partly about exploring ways of enabling community supported development. What was particularly interesting was the consensus amongst speakers that neighbourhood planning is really nothing new. There is a wealth of good practice and experience out there, with many communities or neighbourhoods already having parish plans, community action plans, village design statements and similar. So, we know how to do this. The really big difference though is that, prepared as neighbourhood plans, these documents will now have statutory weight and form part of the development plan. The wheel doesnt need reinventing, existing practice can be built upon, and people / communities / neighbourhoods shouldnt be afraid to give it a go. Advice and guidance on how to do a neighbourhood plan and what should be in it is unlikely to be forthcoming from CLG. They are looking to the frontrunners to test the process. Mistakes might be made, but without giving it a go, well never know whether it will work or not. So, for those of you looking to start out, it is perhaps advisable to keep an eye on the frontrunners and the lessons / best practice emerging from those. To that extent, do drop by again next week when we publish the findings of our survey of the frontrunners. These will also be presented and discussed at Action for Market Towns Neighbourhood Planning Symposium. See here for details.
Neighbourhood Planning Briefing for the Business Community published

Posted on October 13, 2011 Produced jointly by SKM Colin Buchanan and Business in the Community, this new briefing paper summarises the implications of Neighbourhood Planning for businesses and how they might become involved in the process. The full text of the briefing is produced below: Businesses are a key part of our local communities, and it is right that they are able to play an active role in neighbourhood forums. Giving business owners a voice in neighbourhood planning will allow them to help set the agenda for business growth Getting the planning system right is crucial if we are to continue to see a private sectorled recovery, and these changes are an encouraging step in the right direction David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
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Introduction The Localism Bill was published in December 2010. It sets out a series of proposals with the objective of bringing about a substantial and lasting shift in power away from central government and towards local people. In terms of land use planning for example, it proposes the abolition of Regional Plans (formerly known as Regional Spatial Strategies) which set top down housing targets for each local authority in England. The Bill includes: new freedoms and flexibilities for local government; new rights and powers for communities and individuals; reform to make the planning system more democratic and more effective, and reform to ensure that decisions about development are taken locally, through a new tier of Neighbourhood Planning. The Government is also in the process of replacing the multiple statements of planning policy (PPS) it has previously issued with a single simplified National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which places an increased emphasis on the importance of promoting economic growth through the planning process (see endnote 1). Government has indicated that the proposed NPPF would replace more than 1000 pages of planning advice with 52 pages. Impact on Businesses As initially drafted, the Localism Bill did not once mention the word business in relation to Neighbourhood Planning. It has since been recognised that this was a major omission. Proposed amendments to the Bill would broaden the role of Neighbourhood Plans which could now be set up expressly for promoting the carrying on of trades, professions or other businesses in such an area, thereby strengthening the role of business in Neighbourhood Planning. Government has announced eight Business-led Neighbourhood Plan Front Runners (2), which will trial the proposed new powers, and has invited bids from local authorities who wish to work with business organisation(s) and/or community groups to undertake neighbourhood planning prior to the enactment of the Bill. It is clear that the changes proposed could apply and work well in a defined business park, industrial estate or employment area. What is not so clear is how businesses might engage in the process in a town centre or mixed use area or other forms of communities, which include substantial residential development. The Frontrunners should provide some useful lessons as to how this may operate effectively. How this may impact on your business Neighbourhood Planning gives businesses the opportunity to help shape the future of the localities in which they operate. Set out below are some answers to questions you may have about the role of business in Neighbourhood Planning. Some of the answers are not known, and will only emerge as the Bill and the designated Front Runners progress. Questions and Answers
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>> What is a neighbourhood plan and what are the benefits of having one? The purpose of Neighbourhood Planning is to give local people and businesses greater ownership of the plans and policies which affect their local area. The intention is to empower communities to take a proactive role in shaping the future of the areas in which they live and work. Neighbourhood Planning has the potential to help ensure that development is in line with local needs, and provides more certainty for developers, residents and businesses. A neighbourhood plan would be able to identify the specific site or broad location for development and specify the form, size, type and design. >> How will businesses be involved? In parished areas, it is the Parish Council that comprises the body responsible for bringing forward Neighbourhood Plans and opportunities. About 35% of the population in England live in an area with a Parish Council (3). In these areas businesses may suggest to the Parish Council that a plan should be prepared but they will not form part of the constituted body developing the plan. In these circumstances, businesses will be involved through the consultation process. However, they could sponsor the process, and thus have a greater influence in the outcome. In un-parished areas a Neighbourhood Forum will need to be established to propose and develop a Plan. The Forum must write a constitution and it needs to be representative of the area it covers. Under changes to the Localism Bill, it should constitute a minimum of 21 people. Business interests can and should be represented on the Forum, which may even be business-led. >> What is a neighbourhood? There appear to be no fixed definitions, as the amendments to the Localism Bill would seem to encourage the preparation of neighbourhood plans for industrial estates and town centres as well as for predominantly residential areas. Parish Councils and Neighbourhood Forums are free to define their own neighbourhood boundaries, subject to approval from the Local Authority. >> How do businesses currently collectively engage in Planning? Under the present planning system most businesses only engage with the planning system when they wish to build a new or extend existing premises or facilities. All businesses have the opportunity to participate in the local plan process through public consultation events and formal representations on proposed planning policies. However, at present most engagement with local planning occurs through representative or umbrella bodies such as local business partnerships, chambers of commerce, and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
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>> Will business be engaged in Neighbourhood Planning if they do not form part of the Neighbourhood Forum? Yes the HM Treasury / BIS Plan for Growth (4) states that the Government will set out clear requirements for any Neighbourhood Forum or Parish Council to consult and engage local business and take into account their views in preparing Neighbourhood Plans. Neighbourhood Plans will only be adopted if they fit with the national and local planning policy, and they show that they have considered representations from everyone with an interest in the area, including business. >> Who would represent business in the process? The Government is not prescriptive as to how businesses should be represented in the process. It is up to business to decide how they should become involved by engaging with the relevant Forum or Parish Council. This could be through a Traders Association or Town Centre Manager for example. National companies will need to decide whether they should be represented by the local office / store manager, or whether a co-ordinated approach through Regional office or HQ is needed. >> What is the relationship between a Business Improvement District (BID) and a Neighbourhood Plan? A Business Improvement District is a precisely defined geographical area within which the businesses have voted to invest collectively in local improvements to enhance their trading environment. BIDs tend to be found in primarily business areas and the finance they raise is often spent on local area improvements, such as public realm and lighting. Some BIDs do cover wider catchment areas, including a resident population. The Bankside BID in London is a good example of this: it may be this outreach that is part of the rationale behind the designation of this area as a Business Neighbourhood Plan Front Runner. >> Are there any other benefits for businesses? The adoption of a Neighbourhood Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order (NDO) could potentially represent major cost savings for businesses associated with the preparation and submission of planning applications. They could help to unblock sites and opportunities previously held up by restrictive planning policies which have inhibited the ability of businesses to grow and respond to the changing needs, demands and requirements of customers. The proposals are intended to help enable businesses to remain competitive in a rapidly changing economic market. The potential to bring forward Local Development Orders (also referred to as Neighbourhood Development Orders) could be a very strong incentive for businesses to become involved in Neighbourhood Planning (5). The granting of LDOs or NDOs could provide a flexible long term framework providing certainty for businesses, allowing future change and direction to be accommodated.
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Known as Community Right to Buy, the Localism Bill also introduced the ability for communities to bid to takeover and run community assets, such as libraries and community centres. What is not known is whether a business-led neighbourhood planning forum will be eligible to bid to run these assets in the same way a community might be able to. If they are, this might provide an added incentive for a business (or businesses) to actively participate in the Neighbourhood Planning process. >> What can you do? The Localism Bill is currently working its way through Parliament. Its main provisions are expected to come into force in April 2012.
If you are a small business speak to your local authority to find out whether there is a proposal for a neighbourhood plan in your area and if so, who is leading its preparation. Contact them and get involved. If you are a larger business with multiple premises across a wide geography, find out whether any of your branches/offices are in areas covered by the 126 Frontrunners being funded by Government. If so, contact the relevant local authority to find out how to get involved.
End Notes: 1. Consultation Draft National Planning Policy Framework was published on 25 July 2011. The consultation closes on 17 October 2011. 2. Government has announced 126 Neighbourhood Planning Front runners in total. All have received 20,000 in funding. Eight are specifically Business-led. 3. A list of parishes can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_civil_parishes_in_England 4. Plan for Growth (HMT/BIS, March 2011) http://cdn.hmtreasury.gov.uk/2011budget_growth.pdf 5. Local Development Orders (LDOs) are a mechanism designed to give specific types of development planning permission without the need to apply to the local authority.
Consultation period on proposed Neighbourhood Planning Regs now open

Posted on October 13, 2011 CLG has today published the draft Neighbourhood Planning Regulations for Consultation purposes. See here. The document introduces the proposed regulations and seeks views on whether they are fit for purpose. The closing date for responding is 5 January 2012.
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Are you a Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunner? Please take our survey on Lessons Learnt
Posted on October 7, 2011 At the start of 2011 SKM Colin Buchanan conducted a survey of local authorities to find out about their intentions in relation to Neighbourhood Planning. The results of the survey and a number of guides to neighbourhood planning have been published here on www.neighbourhoodplanning.info and widely referenced elsewhere. We are now conducting a follow up survey targeted specifically at local authorities that contain one or more of the Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunners/Vanguards. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please click below to complete the survey, the results of which will be sent directly to all participants. The closing deadline for the survey is Friday 14 October. Thank you in advance for your time http://www.cbtravelsurveys.co.uk/v191/index.php?sid=47658&lang=en
Neighbourhood Planning info now avaliable for download

Posted on August 15, 2011 For those of you who tried to access the downloads over the last week, please note the links are all up and running again now following a successful update of our systems. All are posted here again for quick reference: Planning for Business What is a Neighbourhood, when it isnt a Parish? Neighbourhood Planning Q&A Seven principles for a successful Neighbourhood Plan: Briefing note for local authority planners Local Authority survey results Think piece The Challenges Ahead: How should the planning profession respond?
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Design Council CABE launch Neighbourhood Planning Toolkit & Guidance

Posted on August 8, 2011 The Design Council CABE website now contains a set of guidance notes, briefing material and case studies on all things Neighbourhood Planning, developed based on suggestions submitted by members of the Neighbourhood Planning Linkedin Group. The CABE website loosely groups the material under eight main headings: 1. Briefings: Short briefings, Q & As and summaries produced in response to the Localism bill 2. Guides: Practical guidance from existing community planning programmes and new guides produced in response to the Localism Bill 3. Toolkits: Practical ways for professionals and communities to deliver neighbourhood projects 4. Case Studies: Examples of approaches to community planning and existing neighbourhood plans from overseas and the UK 5. Research: This currently includes academic research to inform policymakers and a review of current design related resources for community groups. 6. Discussion: A number of web based discussion forums about neighbourhood planning which have been set up to share thoughts and ideas 7. Information Hubs: Websites that have brought together guides, case studies and links to other sites 8. Whats coming up: Resources currently in the pipeline
Neighbourhood planning news round-up

Posted on July 14, 2011 Here is an update on various developments and articles neighbourhood planning from the last month: Those of you who read the Observer will be aware of the architecture section regularly published in the New Review. This was recently extended to three whole broad sheet pages and encompassed the wider subject of localism, neighbourhood planning and design. At the heart of this article was a fundamental question: how can design quality be maintained and indeed improved in the age of localism? The Architecture Centre and Open City held an evening discussion on Neighbourhood Planning at the end of June, exploring the role and potential for communities to become more involved in the planning process. Open City are independent champions of good design and run the mycity too programme which has a strong focus on youth involvement.
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Earlier this month it was reported that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is drawing up plans for a new community regeneration fund. Speaking at the at the final oral evidence session of the communities and local government select committee inquiry into regeneration, Grant Shapps said I have an idea in mind where communities will be able to access further sums of money through a local process which will enable them to regenerate in ways that suit them locally. The Royal Town Planning Institute and charity Civic Voice have suggested an amendment to the Localism Bill to prevent neighbourhood planning forums being created solely to promote business needs. Civic Voice director Tony Burton said: Business has an important role in planning the future but it should never be at the expense of the communitys quality of life or the health of the environment. The Localism Bill needs to change if it is to live up to its ambitions of a power shift which will put communities in control. RTPI chief executive Trudi Elliott added: We hope ministers will think again and respond positively so that local people genuinely feel able to influence the places where they live and work and do not find that their neighbourhood plan is being driven solely by the needs of businesses. The London Assembly will be launching a review of community planning in the capital. Through the submission of comments and evidence, this will seek to explore how neighbourhood planning will work inLondon and what new approaches are needed. A further bidding round for frontrunner status is currently open. Applications need to be made to DCLG by Friday 4 November 2011.
Early Lessons from the Frontrunners

Posted on June 2, 2011 CLG has today announced that a further 40 areas will receive funding for Neighbourhood Planning and that a further round of bidding for funding is open. With this in mind it is perhaps worth reflecting on some of the key messages emerging from the excellent session on all matters Neighbourhood Planning organised by Urban Design London yesterday, which included speakers from the CLG, assorted frontrunners and boroughs:
The Neighbourhood Forum should agree a Project Plan at the outset of the process, to identify any issues of policy conformity (to make sure you are fully aware of them and that they dont come back to bite you at the end!), what the area subject of the Neighbourhood Plan will be, who will be doing what, and what the timetable and process for preparing the plan should be; Community or Business led plans wont be right or appropriate in all areas. Instead, think partnership-led. You need all the ingredients in place to make a cake that means the local people, the politicians, and business organisations should all be involved in creating the plan;
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Get a good dialogue going with developers, which can help shape and influence plans and proposals for change, for the better; Use all social media and outreach techniques avaliable to you to engage with as many groups and sectors of the community as possible: the plan should not be influenced by the same faces. It is better to have too many comments, ideas and suggestions than too few; Make use of the CLG funding made avaliable to Planning Aid, Locality, NALC and the Princes Foundation for the express purpose of supporting communities in planning.
Rough Guide to Neighbourhood Planning

Posted on May 27, 2011 An interactive web-based rough guide to neighbourhood planning has been launched. Prepared by ImaginePlaces Ltd with help from Clear Village and Colin Buchanan, the guide is intended to help steer people through the new and rapidly evolving Neighbourhood Planning process, providing pointers to resources along the way. The guide is in Beta format: it is hoped that it will be updated with inputs from all involved in the process. It has been prepared using Prezi: a new storyboard software package that allows you the freedom to explore the guide in any order you wish. So, take the time to play, explore, experiment and enjoy!
More Government Grants Avaliable for Neighbourhood Planning

Posted on May 26, 2011 CLG announced via its website this week that a further round of funding (to the tune of 20,000 per grant) is avaliable for local authorities to bid for under the Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunner scheme. The announcement states: The grants are to be used to help local planning authorities gain insight into how the provisions for neighbourhood planning are likely to work in practice following Commencement of the Localism Bill. Councils will be expected to undertake a planning project in close collaboration with an established community group or parish council in a manner similar to that envisaged in the Localism Bill, or, in business areas, with a local business organisation.
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Interestingly, it also states that in predominantly business areas, the local business organisation will be required to make a contribution to the costs of the project. This would be in addition to any grant funding made avaliable by CLG. The announcement goes on to state that: Given that the relevant provisions in the Localism Bill are not yet in force, local planning authorities will need to operate within the restraints of the current system for producing development plan documents and local development orders. So does this imply that CLG sees Neighbourhood Plans effectively being an AAP (or SPD)? If so, this must raise questions as to how far the 20,000 will go and, perhaps more importantly, if and when a Neighbourhood Plan comes forward that is led by a Neighbourhood Forum or other constituted body set up for the purpose (led by the community as opposed to the local authority), will they be expected to prepare an AAP/SPD for it to have any real planning weight? This requires significant commitment (time, resources, funding) and more than a little knowledge about how the planning system works.
Business-led Neighbourhood Plan Pilots Announced

Posted on May 17, 2011 Following the amendments to the Localism Bill announced last week (and reported here), the Government have announced the eight pilot areas for business-led neighbourhood plans. They are: Aldershot Town Centre Bankside, London Central Milton Keynes Liverpool Innovation Park Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead Trafford Park, Manchester South Bank, London West End, London It is interesting to note that Bankside in London is a frontrunner, given that nearby Bermondsey is also one of the seventeen community-led frontrunners. The relationship between the two should be watched. These announcements represent a great opportunity for business in these locations. This could potentially help unblock sites and opportunities previously held up by restrictive planning policies which have inhibited the ability of businesses to grow and respond to the changing needs, demands and requirements of customers. They will help enable businesses to remain competitive in a rapidly changing economic market.
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New Planning Powers for Business announced

Posted on May 12, 2011 Yesterday the Government announced significant amendments to the localism bill strengthening the role of business in Neighbourhood Planning. Amendments reported by Planning would amend s70 of the TCPA 1990 (determination of applications for planning permission: general considerations) adding a new consideration to make any local finance considerations material to an application. The amendments would broaden the role of Neighbourhood Plans which could now be set up expressly for promoting the carrying on of trades, professions or other businesses in such an area. According to Property Week Government also announced the Business Neighbourhoods initiative which is based on The Department for Communities and Local Governments Neighbourhood Planning Vanguards scheme. Business Neighbourhoods will promote commercial development in various towns and parishes by granting a local development order, a mechanism designed to give specific types of development planning permission without the need to apply to the local authority. Minister for Decentralisation Greg Clark will launch the scheme and announce several areas as frontrunners next Thursday. As part of the scheme, businesses will be given the opportunity to vote on the local development plans usually restricted to local residents. It looks like Government is serious about this, it will be interesting to see which businesses put their head above the parapet when the Frontrunners are announced next week!
Proposed Amendments to Localism Bill

Posted on May 6, 2011 Here, in one place, are the proposed amendments to the Localism Bill as they impact on Neighbourhood Planning:

Amendments 6-7 Lib Dem backbench businesses can join neighbourhood forums Amendment 8 Lib Dem backbench test of competence for neighbourhood forum creation Amendment 9 Lib Dem backbench test of cross-community representation for neighbourhood forum creation
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Amendment 10 Lib Dem backbench minimum size of neighbourhood forum raised from 3 to 12 people Amendment 11 Labour backbench introduction of hearings on changes to Neighbourhood Development Orderss (NDOs) Amendment 12 Labour backbench introduction of equalities impact assessment of NDO New clause 2 Lib Dem backbench requirement on government to define sustainable development within six months New clause 4 Lib Dem backbench introduction of community right of appeal against grant of planning permission that goes against development plan New clause 5 Conservative backbench allows Secretary of State to repeal any statute that creates uncertainty in discharge of planning functions New clause 6 Labour backbench introduction of definition of sustainable development as the purpose of planning
Some of these are already being considered and taken on board we have previously noted for example that the size of the forum could increase to twenty as opposed to the twelve suggested in Amendment 10 above. The government is not expected to table any further amendments of its own at this stage, but is likely to do so during the Committee Stage in the House of Lords. For more info on all the proposed amendments, pop over to the BDB blog written by Angus Walker.
Summary of the inaugural London Neighbourhood Planning Network event

Posted on May 4, 2011 Organised by Urban Design London and Colin Buchanan, the first London-wide Neighbourhood Planning Network event was held on April 14. Attended by almost 60 people from a cross-section of civic groups and voluntary organisations, the event acted as an introduction to Neighbourhood Planning. The opening presentation, by Esther Kurland, Head of Urban Design London, acted as an introduction to planning, urban design and place making. It introduced the principles of good place making and the ingredients that need considering when planning neighbourhoods. Urban Design Londons interpretation of the Top Gear Cool Wall was used to help illustrate what is a good place and why. Those images of places full of people, life and activity were those that attendees identified as being good, well designed places. John Pounder of Colin Buchanan followed Esther, presenting an overview of proposed changes to the planning system as set out in the Localism Bill, the role and purpose of Neighbourhood Planning and some of the issues that need to be considered in producing
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a Plan. Originally allocated a half hour slot, this session was still going strong an hour later. The interactive nature of questions posed by the audience through the presentation highlighted the very real and passionate interest in the subject matter. The session touched on issues such as what is a neighbourhood, what should a neighbourhood plan cover and what should be in the plan. Further information on these questions can be found in the Neighbourhood Planning Q&A. The morning was rounded off by presentations from Fabian Sharp of the Paddington Development Trust and Euan Mills of the Chatsworth Road Neighbourhood Plan. These were excellent inspirational presentations for the audience, showing why and how people might want to get involved in the process. Drawing on their own experiences in Paddington and Chatsworth Road, the presentation demonstrated that very different routes can be taken, but that, in both instances it is the drive and enthusiasm of the community that can help lead to change for the greater good. The work being undertaken by Fabian and Euan is still in progress, but worth keeping an eye on as excellent case study examples. The afternoon kicked off with a short film presented by the Kilburn Older Voices Exchange (KOVE). Although on a very different scale to that being explored by Fabian and Euan, the film again showed that change and improvements can be made: in this case, the installation of benches as resting places along the High Street. An interesting point here is that change can be made outside of a Neighbourhood Plan: bringing people together through a Forum or other means can help generate ideas and unite communities around common interests. The Neighbourhood Plan might be a fantastic forum for discussing projects but, even if a plan is not developed or adopted at the end of the day, much good can still come out of this. The last session of the day was run by Angela Koch of Imagine Places and Thomas Ermacora of ClearVillage. Together, they introduced and facilitated a session on why groups might get involved in the neighbourhood planning process and what they thought the opportunities might be for them. The session introduced a variety of participation techniques that might be utilised to enable everyone in the Neighbourhood to contribute and have a say in any plan that is produced. The event was rounded-up by Sue Vincent of Urban Design London. It was an excellent day and more Neighbourhood Planning Network events are planned throughout the year. Watch this space or keep an eye on the Urban Design London website. In the meantime, the presentations made by Esther, John and Euan can be viewed here.
Planning Successful Neighbourhoods

Posted on April 13, 2011 Tomorrow sees Londons inaugural Neighbourhood Planning Network meeting take place at Urban Design London for amenity societies, resident groups and planners interested in planning successful neighbourhoods.
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This session will cover how planning works and the localism agenda as it stands at the moment. We will discuss what makes successful neighbourhoods and how places work. We will consider physical design issues for neighbourhoods and how to address them. The day will also debate emerging best practice and how boroughs are taking forward neighbourhood planning, particularly within LDFs. There will be an opportunity for community groups and boroughs to showcase their work; for example the Paddington Development Trust, an independent, community-based organisation delivering social and economic regeneration will introduce their projects. Agenda 09.30 10.00 10.10 10.45 11.15 11.30 Refreshments and registration Welcome What makes a good neighbourhood? Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning Break Case Studies Paddington Development Trust Chatsworth Road KOVE 12.30 1.30 2.30 3.00 Lunch Making it work for you Next Steps- Discussion Close
Speakers & Chair: John Pounder, Colin Buchanan Esther Kurland, Urban Design London Fabian Sharp, Paddington Development Trust
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Euan Mills, Chatsworth Road Belita Clahar, Kilburn Older Voices Project Angela Koch, ImaginePlaces Thomas Ermacora, Clear Village Sue Vincent, Chair, Urban Design London, Cllr LB Camden
3.2m Funding Pot to Support Communities in Planning

Posted on April 13, 2011 CLG has today announced the names of the four organisations who will receive funding to provide communities with free advice in regard to neighbourhood planning. They are the Royal Town Planning Institute (through its Planning Aid arm), The Princes Foundation, Locality and the National Association of Local Councils in partnership with the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The funding will be used to support communities in planning, advising on the neighbourhood planning process from start to finish. It will be used to help communities understand the planning process and develop local solutions. Advice will take the form of practical workshops, on-line resources, networking tools and telephone advice lines
What is a Neighbourhood, when it isnt a Parish?

Posted on April 11, 2011 We posed this question on the Neighbourhood Planning Linkedin group earlier this year. It generated a popular and lively debate and raised a number of practical issues about how the relevant provisions of the Localism Bill can be made to work on the ground. The debate ranged far and wide, identifying the complexity of the issues to be faced. This paper prepared by Colin Buchanan and Urban Design London presents a summary of the key issues and areas of uncertainty that DCLG could usefully address and clarify, particularly through the Vanguard / Frontrunner process. A full transcript of the Linkedin conversation can be found here.
New Linkedin group for Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunners

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A discussion forum for the successful Vanguard / Frontrunners has been established as a sub-group to the main Neighbourhood Planning Group on Linkedin. This will allow those that are active in the Vanguards / Frontrunners to discuss and share experiences, whilst also remaining close to the wider debate on the main group pages. Join in here.
Vanguards and Frontrunners announced by CLG

Posted on April 5, 2011 Seventeen urban and rural communities have been selected to pilot neighbourhood planning. Previously termed Vanguards, now renamed Frontrunners, each will receive 20,000 from CLG to work closely with their respective local authorities to develop a plan or a Neigbhourhood Development Order. They are:

Birmingham City Council Balsall Heath (Birmingham) Bristol City Council Lockleaze (Bristol) London Borough of Southwark Bermondsey London Borough of Sutton Hackbridge North Tyneside Council North Shields Fish Quay Wirral Borough Council Devonshire Park Allerdale Borough Council Cockermouth Blaby District Council Blaby Cherwell Borough Council Banbury Exmoor National Park Authority Lynton Gedling Borough Council Newstead Lewes District Council Ringmer Northumberland County Allendale Shropshire Council Much Wenlock Teignbridge District Council Dawlish West Dorset District Council Cerne Abbas Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Bray
A further 33 grants of 20,000 will also be awarded from the fund to projects that applied to be front runners. This is to help them carry forward their plans on their own.
How long will it take to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan?

Posted on April 4, 2011 The length of time taken to prepare the plan will depend on a number of factors, including for example whether there is already a forum or appropriate body set up to manage and run the Plan. It could take a year to prepare, but will depend on the availability of people to regularly meet, discuss and agree the content of the Plan. You may have people in your area who have particular skills or training in planning, design or housing matters for example. Try and make best use of these: knowledge and enthusiasm
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can go a long way. Government has established a ten-step process for the production of a plan: 1. Define the Neighbourhood 2. Designate the Neighbourhood Forum 3. LPA duty to support (in terms of agreeing the area, the forum and providing general guidance and advice as to the shape and content of the Plan) 4. Prepare the Plan 5. LPA validation check (to see whether it is in line with the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy) 6. Independent Examination 7. Examiners Report 8. Plan modifications 9. Referendum 10. Adoption by local authority This could be considered to be very process driven. Point 4 is perhaps where the bulk of the work will be undertaken and warrants more explanation, particularly in terms of the format of the plan, what should be in it, and how you will get agreement on its content! More information will follow here in due course
Vanguard Areas announced

Posted on April 2, 2011 Planning Mag has this morning reported that seventeen Neighbourhood Planning Vanguards have been announced. These are: - Birmingham City Council Balsall Heath - Bristol City Council Lockleaze - London Borough of Southwark Bermondsey - London Borough of Sutton Hackbridge - North Tyneside Council North Shields Fish Quay - Wirral Borough Council Devonshire Park - Allerdale Borough Council Cockermouth - Blaby District Council Blaby - Cherwell Borough Council Banbury - Exmoor National Park Authority Lynton - Gedling Borough Council Newstead - Lewes District Council Ringmer - Northumberland County Allendale - Shropshire Council Much Wenlock - Teignbridge District Council Dawlish - West Dorset District Council Cerne Abbas - Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Bray
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Each area has been awarded 20,000 worth of funding. It is also reported that a further 33 grants of 20,000 will also be awarded from the fund to projects that applied but were not selected. See full report from Planning Mag here.
What is a neighbourhood?
Posted on March 30, 2011 To date, Government have expressed Neighbourhoods in terms of Parishes, but there are no fixed definitions. A Parish Council containing more than one neighbourhood (e.g. multiple villages) could produce plans for each. Local communities are free to define their own neighbourhood areas for the purposes of preparing a plan, subject to approval by their local council. In towns and cities where parishes dont exist, neighbourhoods might, for example relate to local centres and their surrounding residential area. Ideas about what constitutes a neighbourhood are personal. They are shaped by the local services we use (shops, schools, post office, pub, library), geographical landmarks, transport connections, work patterns, social interests and relationships with friends and family. Defining the boundaries of a neighbourhood can be challenging and needs to reflect and bring together different, sometimes conflicting views. What do you think? How would you define your neighbourhood?
We are running an introduction to Neighbourhood Planning with Urban Design London

Posted on March 28, 2011 Together with Urban Design London (UDL), we are hosting an Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning on Thursday 14 April. This comprises UDLs inaugural Neighbourhood Planning Network meeting for amenity societies, resident groups and planners interested in planning successful neighbourhoods. This session will cover how planning works and the localism agenda as it stands at the moment. We will discuss what makes successful neighbourhoods and how places work. We will consider physical design issues for neighbourhoods and how to address them. The day will also debate emerging best practice and how boroughs are taking forward neighbourhood planning, particularly within LDFs. There will be an opportunity for community groups and boroughs to showcase their work.
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We will publish more details, including the agenda for the day and confirmation of speakers as they are announced. To find out more, including how to attend, visit the UDL website.
How do I get started preparing a Neighbourhood Plan?

Posted on March 24, 2011 Get interested people together and agree why you would benefit from having a plan. Think about all the residents, community groups, local organisations, interest groups, social networks and enterprises who might have an interest in a neighbourhood plan. This should include groups often described as hard-to-reach but which might have specific social needs that should be reflected in a neighbourhood plan. Organise a community walk around your neighbourhood to identify key issues. Discuss what the objectives would be. Discuss these with your local planning authority and prepare a work programme. Set up a management committee to oversee the plan preparation and formulate a programme of engagement with residents, businesses, landowners and service providers located in your neighbourhood.
Businesses will now be able to bring forward Neighbourhood Plans

Posted on March 23, 2011 The Plan for Growth, published today by HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), establishes a series of measures which will reform the planning system radically and fundamentally. These include introducing new powers so that businesses are able to bring forward neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders. As currently expressed, the Localism Bill talks about residents, with little or no mention given to the involvement of businesses and commercial organisations in setting up and promoting Neighbourhood Plans. Todays announcement is important: many people will define their neighbourhood in relation to the local centre, the shops, cafes, services and other businesses present. They help define the area and influence local identity. This could also potentially open up the use of Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) as a means of setting up the plan and comprising the constituted body to take it forward. The Plan for Growth specifically states: 2.16 The Government has already set out its plans to provide an opportunity for neighbourhoods to put forward plans for development. Neighbourhood plans will be able to shape development, but not to block it. The Government will set out clear requirements 34
for any neighbourhood forum or parish council to consult and engage local business and take into account their views in preparing neighbourhood development plans and orders. It will ensure that neighbourhood plans are only adopted if they fit with the local authority plan and national planning policy, and they show that they have considered representations from business. 2.17 Further, the Government will enable businesses to bring forward neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders. This will mean that businesses are able to develop and implement planning frameworks, or to set up neighbourhood development orders, reducing the need for additional planning consents, for example on a single or shared use industrial site or town centre. Businesses will need to work with and gain the agreement of the local community and pass independent examination before neighbourhood plans or orders are formalised. Do you think this is good thing?
What is a Neighbourhood Plan? What are the benefits of having one?

Posted on March 22, 2011 The purpose of Neighbourhood Planning is to give local people greater ownership of the plans and policies that affect their local area. The intention is to empower local people to take a proactive role in shaping the future of the areas in which they live. Once in place, the plans will comprise the framework for change in that area for the next ten years. Government has said that Neighbourhood Planning will help communities to play a greater role in finding creative and imaginative ways to overcome the pressures that development can create for conservation and local services and amenities. It could also help ensure that development is in line with local needs, provides greater public amenity and more certainty for developers. A neighbourhood plan would be able to identify the specific site or broad location, specify the form, size, type and design of new development.
Q&A
Posted on March 22, 2011 The Localism Bill introduces the concept of Neighbourhood Planning: a bottom-up approach to planning for the future of an area led by the community. Communities now have a real opportunity to develop plans and shape proposals for the places they live in. But many questions have been raised: What is a neighbourhood? How do we produce a plan? Who is responsible for preparing them? Prepared by Colin Buchanan with Urban Forum and The Young Foundation, this crib sheet seeks to provide answers to the most commonly asked questions.
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Neighbourhood Planning: Collected Articles From The Neighbourhood Planning Blog

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Neighbourhood Planning: Collected Articles From The Neighbourhood Planning Blog

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Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

How many different types of Neighbourhood Plan are there?

Policy and Allocation Plans:

Neighbourhood plans covering a narrower range of issues

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Single Policy Document:

Neighbourhood Development Order (Minor development):

Neighbourhood Development Order (Site specific)

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Flood Risk, Climate Change and Energy

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

London Assembly recommendations for Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

The Portas Review and Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Need to know what and who a Neighbourhood Forum is?

Neighbourhood Planning: Lessons from the Frontrunners

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning: Be Brave, Be Bold

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Briefing for the Business Community published

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Consultation period on proposed Neighbourhood Planning Regs now open

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning info now avaliable for download

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Design Council CABE launch Neighbourhood Planning Toolkit & Guidance

Neighbourhood planning news round-up

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Early Lessons from the Frontrunners

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Rough Guide to Neighbourhood Planning

More Government Grants Avaliable for Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Business-led Neighbourhood Plan Pilots Announced

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

New Planning Powers for Business announced

Proposed Amendments to Localism Bill

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Summary of the inaugural London Neighbourhood Planning Network event

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Planning Successful Neighbourhoods

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

3.2m Funding Pot to Support Communities in Planning

What is a Neighbourhood, when it isnt a Parish?

New Linkedin group for Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunners

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Vanguards and Frontrunners announced by CLG

How long will it take to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan?

Neighbourhood Planning Blog: Collected articles, March 2011 July 2012

Vanguard Areas announced