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WHAT IS A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN?

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It’s important to understand what a neighbourhood plan is, and equally as important, what it is not. Neighbourhood planning is a powerful tool that allows communities to play a more active role in the planning and development of their areas. A neighbourhood plan is a document that sets out planning policies for the local area and is used to guide decisions about land use and development. It is not a vehicle to protest about the number of houses. That needs to be done in other ways. The rules dictate that a neighbourhood plan must be ‘positively prepared’ which is difficult when the local people working on it do not agree with the number of houses being proposed. However, they have persevered as they feel there is a need to influence any development rather stick our collective heads in the sand and ‘get what we are given’ by the developers. The developers would love that. 

HOW IS A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN DIFFERENT FROM THE PURBECK LOCAL PLAN?
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The Purbeck Local Plan: Created by Dorset Council and proposes around 470 houses plus around 65 extra-care facilities for Wool.

 

Wool Neighbourhood Plan: Commissioned by Wool Parish Council and written by local residents. It doesn’t propose any houses but attempts to exercise some control over what we get from The Purbeck Local Plan and identifies other improvements to the parish.

 

A Neighbourhood Plan must comply with other levels of planning policy, namely the National Planning Policy Framework and The Purbeck Local Plan (once it is adopted).

 

A Neighbourhood Plan can refine the planning policies specifically for Wool Parish.

NPPF v Local Plan v NP
WHY PRODUCE A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN?
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The Parish Council decided to create a Neighbourhood Plan to:

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  • Develop a shared vision for Wool, Bovington and East Burton which is led by local people

  • Increase the Parish Council’s proportion of money generated by developments to improve our Parish

  • Identify and protect important local green spaces

  • Influence what new homes should be like

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The law is that if there is no ‘Local Plan’ in place for housing there is a presumption in favour of development and so housing developers could put in speculative planning proposals leading to poor developments. A properly prepared Neighbourhood Plan will lead to more a more controlled approach for the residents of Wool Parish.

WHAT CAN A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN AFFECT?

Typical things that a Neighbourhood Plan might include

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  • The development of housing, including affordable housing, and bringing vacant or derelict housing back into use

  • Provision for businesses to set up or expand their premises

  • Transport and access (including issues around roads, cycling, walking and access for disabled people)

  • The development of schools, places of worship, health facilities, leisure and entertainment facilities, community and youth centres and village halls

  • The restriction of certain types of development and change of use, for example to avoid too much of one type of use

  • The design of buildings

  • Protection and creation of open space, nature reserves, allotments, sports pitches, play areas, parks and gardens, and the planting of trees

  • Protection of important buildings and historic assets such as archaeological remains

  • Promotion of renewable energy projects, such as solar energy and wind turbines

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