Tag Archives: Neighbourhood Planning

Warwick Local Plan Consultations

  Warwick District Council are consulting on the latest stage of their Local Plan preparations. Until the 29th of July 2013 the Council are consulting on the following documents: Local Plan Revised Development Strategy; Gypsy and Traveller Site Options; Community Infrastructure Levy Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule. The revised Local Plan development strategy allocates sites for 6,630 new dwellings over the next 15 years; 22.5 hectares of employment; proposals for a sub-regional employment site; and a hierarchy of rural settlements. If you need help to respond to this or any other Local Plan consultation email or call Michael on 01282 872570. Like all Local Plans, the Warwick Local Plan will set the strategic planning policy for the District. If you are … Continue reading

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Helping Local Planning Authorities Support and Facilitate Neighbourhood Plans

Arguably the greatest change introduced by the government’s planning reforms is community-led Neighbourhood Planning. This does not mean local planning authorities are leaving their communities seeking to neighbourhood plan to their own devices. Local planning authorities up and down the country are looking at different ways in which they can meet their duty to offer “appropriate support” and “facilitate” neighbourhood plans. All easier said than done if you area a local planning authority being asked to balance  competing claims on your scarce planning department resources. This is where Kirkwells can help. Our neighbourhood planning experts can work alongside you to support your parish and town councils and neighbourhood fora. Supporting you with our full range of neighbourhood planning services we can … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Planning: Do We? Don’t We?

This is one of the key questions groups ask themselves when thinking about preparing a neighbourhood plan? And what an important question: given all the time and resources that could be taken up by a neighbourhood plan; especially when considered against all the other things town, parish councils and neighbourhood forums may want or have to do. Kirkwells can help you answer this question and save time and money through our tailored one to one scoping sessions. Individually tailored to your council or group we explore with you all the key issues and help you to decide how they are best addressed. Is this through a neighbourhood plan? Or is this better done via some other route e.g. your local … Continue reading

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Kirkwells’ Neighbourhood Planning News June 2013

The June issue of our popular Neighbourhood Planning News is out now. Click here to download a copy. June’s issue has stories on: First recipients of the government’s £9.5 million funding and support Ban the Plan in Winsford Broadland top-ups Updates on Herefordshire and Warwickshire Community Infrastructure Levy Make sure you do not miss a future issue – subscribe. Need support to produce your neighbourhood plan? Get expert help. Just call 01282 872570. Not sure what neighbourhood planning could mean for your area? Book one of our FREE training sessions.     ©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants based at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley www.kirkwells.co.uk Research • Planning Policy • Site Search • Site Appraisal • Planning Applications •  Appeals • … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Plan Training in Warwickshire and the West Midlands

“Excellent – well structured and well presented” “very interesting day and very informative” “Openness to ongoing questions very helpful” Just some of the comments we received after our recent neighbourhood plan training day for parishes organised alongside Warwickshire & West Midlands Association of Local Councils. Attended by 37 representatives from 17 parishes this one-day training event covered a range of themes using a mix of presentation and hands on workshops, including; Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning General conformity Putting your plan together Engaging the community Examination and referendum Funding This is training that gives you a realistic, comprehensive, and insider’s view of neighbourhood planning. Training that will allow you to assess whether neighbourhood planning is for your area, or give you new … Continue reading

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FREE – Neighbourhood Plan Training

Want to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan? But not sure where to start? Why not get help from our award winning team. We are now offering parishes and community groups FREE Training. BOOK NOW for our special offer of FREE Neighbourhood Planning training. Delivered around England here are just a few comments: “very useful and a lot to think about!” (Bentham Parish Council). “helpful and informative… …a valuable source of information” (Simonstone Parish Council). “everyone got something out of it and they ended up with a greater understanding of the new system.” (Washburn Parish Council) “thank you… …everyone was pleased and impressed.” (Pontefract Town Council and Pontefract Groups Together) To book your FREE session call 01282 872570 or email Michael. Specially designed for parish and town councils, and … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Plan Designation: What Happens if we are not a Parish?

Town Planning heralded one of its most significant ever changes when on the 6th of April 2012 the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations came in to effect. These changes mean communities now have the power to plan and shape their neighbourhood. To find out more read on, or call Michael on 01282 872570. Much talk on neighbourhood planning has centred on existing parishes who are in the advantageous position of being already identified in the Localism Act as “relevant bodies” when seeking to be designated a neighbourhood planning area. But what about non-parished areas? Areas with, say neighbourhood forums, area boards, or some other less formal local decision-making structure. For non-parished areas there are additional requirements you will have to meet before … Continue reading

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Parish Councils: How to Apply for Designation as a Neighbourhood Plan Area

If you area a parish or town council you can now seek to be designated as neighbourhood planning areas. This will allow you to prepare a neighbourhood plan. To find out more read this guide, or call 01282 872570 to discuss how you go about seeking a neighbourhood planning designation for your parish or town council. When applying for designation as a neighbourhood plan area parishes must apply to their local planning authority. This application must include: a map identifying the area to which the application relates; a statement setting out why the area is considered appropriate as a neighbourhood plan area; and a statement that the organisation is a “relevant body” i.e. a parish council. What happens after submitting … Continue reading

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Thame and Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan Yes Votes

Nigel Farage’s views on this are not yet known but Thame and Exeter St James have voted yes in the next neighbourhood plan referendums, after the yes vote in Upper Eden. In Thame the Referendum was held on Thursday 2 May 2013. The question which was asked in the Referendum was: “Do you want South Oxfordshire District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for the Thame Area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?” Response Votes YES 2779 NO 855 TURNOUT 39.8 per cent On a much poorer turnout, than Thame, Exeter St James has voted yes in their neighbourhood plan referendum. Yes 92% No 6.2% Turnout 20.8% Kirkwells are one of the country’s leading independent experts on neighbourhood … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Plan Funding: We Will Just Have To Be Patient

Well, if like us you had been expecting today’s big announcement to be about neighbourhood plan funding you are in for a disappointment. DCLG Ministers had said that the “support programme for neighbourhood planning will be launched on the 15th of April 2013”. (see our previous post). Clearly a lot can happen in a month, because today we really do not know much more. The “full information” we were promised amounts to this and a side of A4 of grant application questions. OK. Too early to gripe, but not the best of starts. And don’t think you can jump the gun and get in there early – applications made before 1st of May will not be processed. So for those of … Continue reading

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