Barrowden and Wakerley Joint Neighbourhood Plan.

Transcription

1 Barrowden and Wakerley Joint Neighbourhood Plan. Proposal for Neighbourhood Plan Support MD Planning - November Updated 6th January 2017.

2 1. Introduction 1.1 Barrowden Parish Council and Wakerley Parish Meeting are in the process of developing a Joint Neighbourhood Plan (NP) and have issued an invitation to tender for services. The invitation indicates that the Neighbourhood Planning Group (NPG) is now seeking the services of a planning consultant to: Review the data from the consultation events and the questionnaire; Review the scope of the Draft Plan; and Report on whether the Draft Plan matches the direction indicated by the responses to the two events and is consistent with the Rutland Local Plan and National Planning Policies. 2. Work undertaken to date 2.1 A Neighbourhood Planning Group (NPG) has been established to produce the NP and a Neighbourhood Plan Area was designated in 2015.Barrowden has a population slightly in excess of 500 people whilst the population of Wakerley is approximately Work undertaken to date has included two events at which residents were asked for their views on a number of key topics. These events, held in October 2015, were followed by the distribution of a questionnaire during March The questions sought to focus on the areas of importance highlighted by the responses received at the two earlier events. There was an extremely high response rate to the questionnaire (>70% of households). 2.3 The NPG has now produced a rough draft of the NP (dated 9 th September 2016). The rough draft is subdivided into the following topic areas: conservation, environment, leisure, recreation and community facilities; residential development, transport, the rural economy, utilities; and healthcare. Each topic area includes an introduction, objectives, a description of the policy context; a list of evidence sources; and a description of the proposed policy content. 3. The Quotation 3.1 The brief issued by the NPG specifies that the quotation should include: Any issues that might be identified with the brief; A draft programme for the work; Inclusive charges for completing the project; Details of all individuals to be involved in project with short biography including qualifications and demonstrating relevant experience; The names of two referees; and Confirmation that no conflict of interest would arise in the event of being selected 1

3 4. Issues identified with the brief: Review the data from the consultation events and the questionnaire; review the scope of the Draft Plan; and report on whether the Draft Plan matches the direction indicated by the responses to the events: 4.1 Neighbourhood plans are now a feature of the planning system and enable communities to play a significant role in shaping the areas in which they live and work and in supporting new development proposals. National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG) indicates that a parish council should be inclusive and open in the preparation of its neighbourhood plan and ensure that the wider community is kept fully informed of what is being proposed; is able to make their views known throughout the process; has opportunities to be actively involved in shaping the emerging neighbourhood plan; and is made aware of how their views have informed the draft neighbourhood plan. 4.2 The strong degree of commitment shown by the NPG towards involving the community in the NP for Barrowden and Wakerley is clearly demonstrated by the events held to date and the high response rate to the questionnaire. Furthermore, it is vital that issues raised in response to consultation are considered and responded to if the NP is to receive widespread support from the local community at the referendum stage. 4.3 The importance of ensuring that the issues raised are appropriately dealt with in the NP are therefore fully understood by MD Planning. However, it is also important to understand that there are various reasons why it may not be possible to address a particular issue. For example, including a particular proposal in a neighbourhood plan may conflict with the aims of national policy or the strategic policies of the Development Plan (see paragraphs 4.5 to 4.9, below). The report produced by MD Planning would aim to highlight any apparent conflicts. 4.4 Equally, the purpose of a neighbourhood plan is to address the development and use of land and should make it clear in what circumstances planning permission would or would not be granted. The policy description in the draft NP appears to include wider community aspirations than those relating to development and use of land. NPPG indicates that actions dealing with non land use matters should be clearly identifiable. For example, set out in a companion document or annex. Again, the report produced by MD Planning would seek to highlight elements of the policy description which do not appear to relate directly to land use planning. Report on whether the Draft Plan is consistent with the Rutland Local Plan and National Planning Policies. 4.5 The rough draft of the Neighbourhood Plan does not include planning policies but does provide a brief description of the proposed policy content. 2

4 4.6 Government requirements indicate that a neighbourhood plan must have regard to national planning policy and advice, which is primarily contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). However, the NPPF is supplemented by National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG), which provides more detailed advice on a range of topics. The report undertaken by MD Planning will therefore assess the proposed policy content of the Neighbourhood Plan against relevant policy and advice in the NPPF, NPPG and other national policy listed on the NPPF page ( where it is appropriate to do so. 4.7 Neighbourhood plans must also be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Development Plan for the area. The key Development Plan documents relevant to that part of the Neighbourhood Area within: Rutland are the Rutland Core Strategy (adopted 2011); and the Rutland Site Allocations Development Plan Document (adopted 2014). Northamptonshire are the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy (adopted 2016) and the Rural North, Oundle and Thrapston Plan (RNOTP) (adopted 2011). The report undertaken by MD Planning will therefore assess the proposed policy content of the NP against relevant policy and advice in the above mentioned Development Plan documents. 4.8 Rutland County Council has embarked on a local plan review whilst East Northamptonshire Council is preparing a Local Plan Part 2 which will, in part, replace the remaining policies in the RNOTP. Both of these plans are at an early stage and draft policies have yet to be published. However, policies in the NP should be reviewed against any relevant policies in the emerging Local Plan documents once these are available. 4.9 The Development Plan also includes minerals and waste local plans for Rutland and Northamptonshire. As part of the desktop study it is therefore proposed that these documents should, if appropriate, be examined to ensure that there is no land use conflict between the proposed policy content of the NP and strategic policies on minerals and waste. Conclusion In conclusion, the report produced by MD Planning would: Assess the issues raised during consultation and comment on whether or not these have been adequately addressed in the draft NP; Highlight any apparent conflicts with national policy and with the strategic policies of the Development Plan as defined in paragraphs 4.5 to 4.9, above; seek to highlight elements of the policy description in the Draft Plan which do not appear to relate directly to land use planning. 3

5

6 ghbourhood_plan.aspx ) throughout the neighbourhood plan process. The Plan passed the referendum stage in September and is expected to be made (adopted) towards the end of this year. 7.3 I am currently assisting Ecton Parish Council with the Ecton Neighbourhood Plan. The Parish population is not dissimilar in size to that of Barrowden and Wakerley and the majority of buildings are within the Conservation Area. An Emerging Draft Plan has been produced and this has recently been the subject of public consultation (see In addition, and of relevance to Wakerley, I have also undertaken work for the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit on the preparation of the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy, which was adopted earlier this year. 8. Names of two referees: 1. Mr John Mitchell Wollaston Parish Council Scott Bader Innovation Centre Bryson Building Office 1 Wollaston Northamptonshire NN29 7RL 2. Mrs Sally Bresnahan Ecton Parish Council Chairman 12 The Courtyard Church Way Ecton Northampton NN6 0QE Should the NPG wish to contact the named referees, I would be grateful if you would let me know so that I can advise them in advance. 9. Conflict of interest: I can confirm that no conflict of interest would be likely to arise in the event that I am selected to undertake work on the Barrowden and Wakerley Joint Neighbourhood Plan. 5