Neighbourhood planning process
Neighbourhood Planning can be confusing for those just starting out, but below we outline the legal steps involved and our own guide to the process
Neighbourhood Planning: the formal process
Stage 1 - Scoping and designation
- Initial scoping and options for making a Neighbourhood Plan (informal).
- Designation of Neighbourhood Area or Neighbourhood Forum (formal).
Stage 2 - Engagement and evidence
- Community engagement and identification of issues and aims.
- An evidence base is built up to support the Neighbourhood Plan.
- Various data are gathered, for example socio-economic studies, technical studies, other plans (community, parish plan, village design statement).
Stage 3 - Consultation
- The Proposed Neighbourhood Plan is submitted for consultation (formal).
- First, this involves a 6-week period for statutory consultation of the preferred policies proposed in a pre-submission draft Neighbourhood Plan. After a 6-week pre-submission consultation exercise the plan may be amended in the light of such a consultation (summarised in a ‘consultation statement; which must be prepared).
- Secondly, a 6-week period for statutory consultation of the final policies (the submission version).
Stage 4 - Independent examination
- An independent assessor is appointed, who will consider the responses made to the formal version and then apply the basic conditions.
Stage 5 - Referendum
- Referendum with (minimum) 28 working days’ notice given.
- Neighbourhood Plan adapted if a simple majority (51 %) is achieved in the referendum.
Stage 5 - Delivery
- Implementation and monitoring (Plan delivery).
- Funding streams may be identified by virtue of ring-fenced Community Infrastructure levy (CIL) monies, which apply when a Neighbourhood Plan is in place and approved.
Our 10 key stages of drafting a Neighbourhood Plan
Once you have designated a Neighbourhood Plan area and engaged the local community, bringing together a shared vision, you are ready to start drafting a Plan. The following stages may be helpful in this process:
- Whether to pursue a Neighbourhood Plan or not
- Initial consideration as to the content you may want
- How to start the plan – scoping out the content
- Defining the Neighbourhood Plan area
- Getting funding – future routes and possibilities
- Gathering evidence and preparing your Plan
- Submitting your Plan
- The Assessor’s independent examination
- Community referendum
- Adoption of the ‘made’ Plan and its implementation
Linking back to the Chilterns special qualities
With a list of the relevant topics before you, consider the necessary policy action to address the issues.
| CONTEXT (drawn from special qualities) | TOPICS (broad areas to consider) | POLICY ACTION (detailed or specific areas to address in the Neighbourhood Plan). |
| Views: panoramas, distinctive escarpment | SETTING – views in and views out of the National Landscape | A policy to protect setting with cherished local views identified in the Plan. |
| Heritage: archaeological landscape, distinctive buildings, ancient routeways | LOCAL HERITAGE | A policy to protect locally valued buildings that is linked to a Local List. |
| Tranquillity: wooded landscapes, farmland, dark skies, national trails and access | DARK SKIES – promotion and lighting controls | A policy to promote dark skies and linked to best practice documents. |
| Habitat protection: chalk grassland, diverse flora and fauna | HABITAT CONNECTIONS – promotion and protection | A policy to promote greater biodiversity linked to enhancement works on various sites. |
Neighbourhood Plan point.
Your understanding of the local landscape will be invaluable, including your knowledge of local landscape character and topography (the natural and artificial features of the land). This will include any views both to and from the National Landscape, skyline views, water features, hedgerows and trees and other natural features. Erosion may be evident, such as the loss of hedgerows, light spill and glare, watercourses drying up, and skyline views diminished. You may consider the impacts upon public footpaths, bridleways and byways open to all traffic. The erosion of attractive and significant views must be noted.
- Chilterns special quality: landscape and settlements
Neighbourhood Plan point.
Consider the settlement context and the historic development of the buildings, often linked to rural buildings and their development. Is the settlement nucleated? (i.e. the houses are grouped closely together, often around a central feature like a church, pub or village green). Is the settlement linear (follows a line)? Or is it dispersed or scattered? Its historical development will be relevant if any new site or land is being considered for the promotion of new development.
- Chilterns special quality: culture and character
Neighbourhood Plan point.
Consider specific statutory (legal) land-use and planning designations, such as Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), National Nature Reserves (NNRs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), tree preservation orders, and conservation areas. Other designations may also come into play, such as Ancient Woodland (protected in planning policy) and dark skies landscapes (an international designation but also a campaign run by CPRE).
- Chilterns special quality: biodiversity
- Chilterns special quality: tranquillity and dark skies
Neighbourhood Plan point.
It’s important to build a picture of the character of your community, its essential context (as above) and the many links you will have to the special qualities of the Chilterns National Landscape. From this, the topics that impact your community can best be promoted as policy areas for action.
Our Chilterns Neighbourhood Planning Toolkit was created as part of the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership Scheme, made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Published by the Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB), a Conservation Board established under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
DISCLAIMER: While every effort is made to ensure all the legal and policy references are correct, CCB always recommends that these are checked as revisions and updates will occur.
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