Issue details

Neighbourhood Planning in Torbay: Applications for Neighbourhood Forums and Plan Areas

 

 

Torbay is promoting coverage of the entire local authority area with neighbourhood plan areas, with a Neighbourhood Plan and related Forum for each of the three towns. The Council has liaised with the Forums over a period of many months to pave the way for this work.

Neighbourhood Plans are regulated by the Localism Act 2011. They have to go through several prescribed stages, including consultation, independent examination and local referendum. Under the related Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012), organisations are required at the outset to submit their proposals for preparation of neighbourhood plans to the local authority, setting out details of plan areas and forums to co-ordinate this work.

Torbay Council has now received applications for neighbourhood planning areas, together with details of forums and constitutions for each of its three towns. The Council is required to consider these applications, to advertise them, to address the representations received and to agree a way forward.

When adopted, neighbourhood plans will be part of the statutory development plan, along with the new Torbay Local Plan ‘A Landscape for Success’, and will have formal weight in determining planning applications.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Policy Framework;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Decision due: 6 Dec 2012 by Council

Lead member: Councillor David Thomas, Leader of the Council and Leader of the Conservative Group david.thomas@torbay.gov.uk

Lead director: Commissioner of Place and Environment

Contact: Les Crump, Executive Head of Spatial Planning Email: les.crump@torbay.gov.uk.

Consultation process

Consultation requirements for preparation of neighbourhood plans are set out in the Localism Act and Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. A variety of methods are used according to the stage reached in Plan preparation, including press and local media, websites, community liaison, email and paper correspondence, plus use of Council Offices, Libraies and Connections Offices for reference documents.

The current stage (publication of receipt of applications for preparation of Neighbourhood Plans) involved placing a formal Notice in the Herald Express, dedicated space on the Council's website and a press release.

Consultees

Ward Councillors, Neigbourhood Forums, Community Partnerships

Reason for inclusion in Forward Plan: Neighbourhood plans are an important part of the Government’s programme of localism. They provide a unique opportunity for Torbay’s communities to help shape the development and growth of local areas, in the context of emerging Local Plan. Their preparation in parallel with the new Local Plan will enable both types of Plan to be the mutually compatible, empowering communities to influence decisions at a local level, for example through the identification in Neighbourhood Plans of sites for development. Torbay Council was successful in an initial bid (2011) to take part in the DCLG Neighbourhood Planning Front Runners Scheme, to secure funding from central government to help create a neighbourhood plan for Brixham. Subsequent bids for the Torquay and Paignton Neighbourhood Forums have also been successful with the fifth wave of frontrunners announced in March 2012. All Torbay Forums, in partnership with the Council, have been working with the Prince’s Foundation.

Key Risks: Failure to continue to work with Neighbourhood Forums on preparation of Neighbourhood Plans would result in a lost opportunity to secure community benefits for local areas. This course of action would also remove the potential benefits to be derived from ‘parallel tracking’ with the new Torbay Local Plan. However, the Government has been clear that localism should not be a vehicle for stopping development. A plan that does not meet objectively assessed needs is unlikely to be supported by an independent examination. Thus if any of the three Neighbourhood Plans fail to identify sufficient development sites, this could seriously undermine the new Local Plan. If parts of a neighbourhood area were to withdraw from its respective Forum, this would undermine the validity of a Neighbourhood Plan and significantly reduce its chance of being successfully adopted. The three Neighbourhood Plans, following independent examination, need to be agreed by referendum.

If you want to make representations contact:: David Pickhaver - Telephone 01803 208814; email david.pickhaver@torbay.gov.uk Address - Spatial Planning, Roebuck House (Floor 2), Abbey Road, Torquay TQ2 5TF

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