Locality is providing support and grants to help hundreds of areas across the country create neighbourhood plans, with a £9.5m fund available.
What is Neighbourhood Planning?
The Localism Act 2011 introduces statutory Neighbourhood Planning in England. It enables communities to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan for their area and is intended to give communities more of a say in the development of their local area (within certain limits and parameters).
These plans will be used to decide the future of the places where you live and work giving opportunities to:
• choose where you want new homes, shops and offices to be built
• have your say on what new buildings should look like
• grant planning permission for the new buildings you want to see go ahead
Neighbourhood Planning support
The Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning programme will support groups developing neighbourhood plans in two ways:
• direct support – advice and support, tailored to meet the needs of supported neighbourhoods
• grant payments – up to £7,000 per neighbourhood area, to contribute to costs incurred by the group preparing a neighbourhood plan or order
The programme is underpinned by activities and resources to share learning, promote good practice, and encourage networking for groups developing neighbourhood plans.
Before you apply make sure you talk to your local authority about the support they may be offering and what additional needs you might have.
Who is eligible?
Town and parish councils, neighbourhood forums and emerging neighbourhood forums preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order in England will be able to apply.
For further information and to apply, visit: http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/neighbourhood-planning/