Neighbourhood Planning in Westminster. Nigel Hughes

Transcription

1 Neighbourhood Planning in Westminster Nigel Hughes

2 The Localism Act 2011 The Act introduced a range of new powers for local communities: Community Right to Bid Community Right to Challenge Neighbourhood Planning Neighbourhood Forum Production of a Neighbourhood Plan or Order

3 Neighbourhood Forums The Process Designate a neighbourhood area Establish a neighbourhood forum Prepare a neighbourhood plan Pre-submission consultation on a neighbourhood plan Submit the plan to the local planning authority Independent examination by an inspector Referendum Adoption of the neighbourhood plan

4 Progress to date >1000 neighbourhood area applications >700 neighbourhood areas designated 75 draft neighbourhood plans published for consultation 25 plans submitted for examination 17 plans approved at examination 9 plans approved via referendum 7 neighbourhood plans formally adopted

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6 Mayfair & Belgravia

7 Mayfair

8 Belgravia

9 Victoria

10 Grosvenor Applications in Westminster Boundary Application Consultation Decision end Mayfair 24 July Sept th April 2013 Belgravia 13 August October 2012 Awaited Victoria 21 January st March th Sept 2013 Chelsea Barracks 20 May July 2013 Awaited Forum Mayfair 24 June nd August th Jan 2014 Page 10

11 Why get involved? A community-led framework for guiding the future development of an area. Neighbourhood Plan or Order is a key opportunity the Forum decides what it wants to do. The Plan becomes part of the statutory development plan for the area. The City Council will have to take the Neighbourhood Plan into account. A Neighbourhood Development Order may remove the need for planning permission for certain kinds of development.

12 Why did Victoria BID get involved? VBID believes that a Neighbourhood Forum in Victoria will:! have significant influence on local planning procedures.! be the ideal platform to promote partnership & cooperation between residential associations & businesses.! integrate all businesses, workers & residents in the area to ensure that everyone benefits from the work undertaken & benefits derived.! transform Victoria to a destination of choice, providing a sense of place & ownership by those who work, live & visit the area.!

13 Why did Grosvenor get involved? 300 years of stewardship Single voice for the whole community Focus on local issues a statement of local intent Protect what adds value, supplement what creates value Opportunity for business to get involved and be heard Return of the Community Infrastructure Levy to the local area

14 How did we get started? Assess the pros and cons Consider the appropriate boundaries Identify and engage with key stakeholders residents, residents groups, Westminster City Council, BIDs and businesses Invite interested parties to become involved Set up an interim working group Publicity through web-sites, local newspapers, associations Obtain pro-bono support for legal, planning, administrative and marketing support

15 Partners Mayfair Belgravia Victoria! Residents Society of Mayfair & St James s! Mayfair Residents Group! Grosvenor! Crown Estate! Shepherd Market Association! Belgravia Residents Association! Belgravia Society! Grosvenor! Motcomb Street, Elizabeth Street & Pimlico Road Traders Associations! Victoria Interchange Group! Victoria Business Improvement District! Land Securities! Grosvenor

16 Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum Page 16

17 Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum Articles of Association Company limited by guarantee Steering group comprising 4 businesses, 4 residents and a business chair Option to appoint up to 4 community representatives Elections January Working groups Governance Communications Planning Voluntary subscriptions Page 17

18 Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum Page 18

19 Creating the plan Public meetings to agree priorities: Planning Public realm Enhancement of the Conservation Areas Respecting the unique attributes of specific areas Licensing and community retail Influence over potential development opportunities Neighbourhood Management Traffic Policing, crime and security Sustainability Air quality Community infrastructure

20 The Neighbourhood Plan Policies must relate to the development and use of land and have appropriate regard to EU and national policy. Contribute towards sustainable development No set format simple or complex It would be nice if.but cannot impose No planning powers or legal right of consultation Heavyweight legally binding planning policy once adopted, WCC have a duty to support the forum and have to use the plan Adds detail to Westminster City Plan but can t contradict in general conformity Page 20

21 The Process Prepare a communications and consultation strategy Set out the vision and identify key objectives Develop evidence base review current initiatives and key policies Prepare the neighbourhood plan structure Review the vision and objectives in the light of the evidence base Produce a draft plan Regulation 14 consultation and finalise the plan Prepare supporting documentation Page 21

22 The Neighbourhood Forum must consult with: Mayor of London The local planning authority The Homes and Communities Agency Natural England, The Environment Agency English Heritage Network Rail Infrastructure Limited The Highways Agency Page 22

23 As well as Public Health or Clinical commissioning groups or successor bodies Relevant electric, gas and water companies Voluntary bodies, Bodies which represent theinterests of different racial, ethnic or national groups in the neighbourhood area Bodies which represent the interests of different religious groups in the neighbourhood area Bodies which represent the interests of persons carrying on business in the neighbourhood area Bodies which represent the interests of disabled persons in the neighbourhood

24 The consultation statement should: Contain details of the persons and bodies who were consulted Set out how they were consulted Summarise the main issues and concerns raised Describe how these issues and concerns have been considered, and where relevant, addressed in the proposed neighbourhood plan. Page 24

25 The Process Regulation 14 6 week public consultation Submit to local authority with a basic conditions statement and a statement about the consultation 6 week consultation by the local authority Independent examination of the plan Page 25

26 Examination The examiner will produce a report which will recommend either that: the plan can proceed to referendum stage without any changes Further modifications are required to the plan, before it can proceed to referendum stage; or The plan does not meet the basic conditions and the plan should not proceed to referendum stage. Page 26

27 The Referendum Organised and funded by local authority Separate referenda for Businesses and Residents Absolute majority Local authority has final decision if referenda are split Page 27

28 Potential pitfalls Has the community got the stamina and ambition to see it through? Motives and suspicions Nimby, Banana (or Fruit cake)? Maintains the status quo can it make a difference? Additional complexity and delays Is the forum representative and democratic? Cost of preparing a neighbourhood plan

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30 Partners Page 30