What is it?
You may have read or heard about your Neighbourhood Plan but are still a little confused or in the dark as to what it is and how it may affect you. Among nine other parishes in West Devon, the Parishes of Bere Ferrers and Buckland Monachorum are currently undertaking the lengthy process of building what is called a ‘Neighbourhood Plan'. With the government stipulating that thousands of new homes need to be built throughout the country in the next 10 years and most, if not all areas having to take on a share of this number, a Neighbourhood Plan gives those living in a particular parish the opportunity to have their say on where these new homes might be best placed, the design specifications and the type of property they should be – whether it be affordable homes, starter homes or retired accommodation. It also looks at where small infrastructure projects (such as employment units, village halls etc) may need to be placed too.
How does it work?
Prior to 2011 Parish Councils could create a Parish Plan setting out things they would like to do, which although good in theory, was little more than a wish list of needs with no real authority to deliver it. However, the Localism Act, introduced in 2011, brought in the concept of Neighbourhood Plans. Once a Neighbourhood Plan has been ‘made’, approved by the Local Authority and endorsed by the community in a referendum, it becomes statutory. In a nutshell this means that once in place, a Neighbourhood Plan will need to be formally taken into account by the Local Authority, giving us, as local parishioners, a real say in, for instance, where new housing or industrial developments are put. Currently the parish councils can have their say and object on a planning matter if they so wish, but the Local Authority has no obligation to consider the Parish's views where these may contradict their own. With a Neighbourhood Plan in place, the Parish's views are given equal weight to those of the Local Authority. This allows the vital local knowledge of an area that a parish council and its parishioners have to influence development.
Several major steps are needed before a Neighbourhood Plan can be ‘made’. Firstly the plan needs to be prepared – in this instance the Bere Ferrers plan is being put together by a dedicated steering committee comprising of parish councillors and parish residents, with Councillor Mike Benson as the coordinator. For the parish of Buckland Monachorum, this is being led by the Parish Council with Councillor Ric Cheadle as the coordinator. The plan can only be prepared using information and evidence gained through public consultation exercises taking the form of questionnaires, public meetings or door-to-door surveys. Once all this information is collated and the plan is in place, it is checked to ensure that it meets legal requirements and compliments Local and National policy and then it is put to a public referendum, where each and every parishioner is given the opportunity to vote with either a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, as to whether they agree with the plan.
Once in place a Neighbourhood Plan will give the vision and solid framework for any future developments within that parish, for the next 15 years or so. It will be reviewed at interim times over that period to check that it remains relevant to the needs of the community.
Why should I be interested?
‘this doesn’t affect me because the proposed site for new housing is in another village’ - perhaps a typical response. But have another think. If an area of land becomes free for development, it is more than likely that any building developer would in preference build one or two large luxury homes on the site giving him the best profit margins. However, these homes are unaffordable for young people and their families (these young families may well be your own children or future grand-children). Within a short space of time, the village school may be forced to close due to low pupil numbers as fewer young families with children live in the area. The village post office and shops close due to fewer local customers - as wealthy homeowners prefer to shop in the cities. Elderly people downsizing are forced out of the area, due to a lack of smaller affordable homes or bungalows. Within a very few years our much needed infrastructure that is a vital part of our rural community; bus routes, village shops, schools, pubs, village halls, will all slowly become redundant with the demise of our local economy.
A Neighbourhood Plan gives us all a say in how our rural communities will look in the future and how they will survive. So take an interest in how your community develops and look at the draft plan online or come along to meetings when they are being advertised. Have your say and make a difference.
Buckland Monachorum Parish Neighbourhood Plan.
OPEN DAY - Saturday 23rd April in St Paul's Church Hall, Yelverton (next to the church) from 10am - 3pm.
Or view the plan online at: wwwbucklandmonachorumplan.co.uk or email rcheadle@westdevon.gov.uk
Bere Ferrers Neighbourhood Plan: The steering group of the Bere Peninsula Plan hope to submit their draft plan for public consultation soon. www.berepeninsulaplan.org.uk or cllr.mike.benson@westdevon.gov.uk