West of England Rural Network Community Led Planning

West of England Rural Network Community Led Planning in South Gloucestershire A Neighbourhood Plan for Thornbury? Dick Whittington, WERN

Who Are WERN? • A Registered Charity working across the four Unitary Authorities of West of England • One of 38 County based “Rural Community Councils” affiliated to ACRE • Working with communities to support and foster community-led action and promote long-term sustainability of local services • Commissioned by South Glos Council to support Community Led Planning • Working with Neighbourhood Plan groups – Charfield, Pucklechurch

WEST OF ENGLAND JOINT SPATIAL PLAN • • 85, 000 houses needed by 2036 47, 000 already planned Supporting 88, 000 new jobs “to manage growth whilst maintaining our quality of life, beautiful coast and countryside”

South Gloucestershire Council Core Strategy • Another 1, 000 houses required just to meet Five Year Housing supply. • Much of the rural area now exposed • Green Belt could be subject to review • Rewrite of South Glos Local Plan – 2018? • Open season for developers meanwhile?

Focus for Development? • Much of our area restricted by – Green Belt – AONB – Flood plain • “Sustainable Communities” – Range of services eg Schools, Shops, Health – Public Transport links • So limited options for development – – Yate Sodbury Northern Fringe Charfield Thornbury

So what can communities do? • • • Complain to your MP? Lobby the new Metro Mayor? Write to the papers? Protest? Move house ? (but where to? ) • Come up with your own Plan……?

Neighbourhood Plans Localism Act 2011 Development Focus – Statutory weight Subject to Examination & Referendum…. . …so process and evidence is very important NOT an opportunity to say NO to development…. (must be “in general conformity” with Local Plan & NPPF) • …. Opportunity to channel development in the right direction? • Charfield Appeal demonstrated need for protection against random development • • •

How can a Neighbourhood Plan help? • NOT a mechanism for blocking development (must be consistent with National and Local Plans) • CAN exert influence on – Scale of development – Location – Type/Purpose – Design

How can a Neighbourhood Plan help? Part 2 • SHOULD Identify Infrastructure needs – Services – Traffic – Community • Note also increased proportion of CIL payable to local communities with a completed Neighbourhood Plan

Neighbourhood Plans – Key Steps • • Assess community support Define Neighbourhood (SGC consultation) Establish project team Community engagement – key themes – Consider Housing Needs Survey • • • Develop draft priorities and policies Community Consultation Finalise Plan Independent Examination Evidence is Key! Public Referendum

Define Neighbourhood • • Whole of Thornbury Parished area? Part of Thornbury? Thornbury plus neighbouring settlement(s)? Subject to Consultation through South Glos Council (six week process) – But if limited to whole Parish then consultation not required

Community Engagement • Critical at all stages – – Publicity Events Surveys etc • Wide range of stakeholders – residents, workers, landowners, service providers, others with an interest • What are the key issues? • Consultation on priorities and policies – Evidence is a key issue for the Examiner – Plan has to pass Referendum

Preparing the Plan • • • Baseline information Evidence of stakeholder needs and views Evidence of engagement and consultation Identify and assess options Consider environmental impacts etc Draft specific Policies

Formal Consultation Local Authority • Reviewed by Local Authority, including check against relevant legislation • Representations invited • Consultation with appropriate bodies • Responses considered and amendments made if necessary • Submitted to Independent Examiner

Independent Examination • Appointed from list of qualified examiners • Representations invited but Examination undertaken in private (generally) • Examiner reaches conclusion, may include amendments agreed with Neighbourhood Plan group • Report issued • Local Authority can then send the Plan to Referendum

Referendum Process managed by Local Authority Polling arrangements as per Elections Simple majority required If so, final check v European legislation and Human rights • …and FINALLY the Plan is made (ie becomes part of the statutory planning process alongside the Local Plan. • •

Timescales? • • Getting started 1 month Define Neighbourhood 1 month Initial engagement 3 months Options Appraisal 6 months Policy development 4 months Local Authority Consultation 3 months Examination 3 months Referendum 3 months

Resources Required • Parish Council Leadership • Project Team 8 – 12 people with mix of skills and interests ( at least 2 Councillors) • Funding (available from Locality - £ 9, 000 standard) - for expert consultancy, public events, surveys, printing etc • Independent Examination and Referendum – costs met by Local Authority • Time, Effort, Persistence – allow 18 months +

Tough Challenge, but Support is available • Funding via Locality • Local Authority has responsibility to support and advise, but – Very limited resources – Relatively little experience of Neighbourhood Plans • WERN can provide some support – Process governance and engagement – External experience • Experience of Plans elsewhere in West of England – Backwell, Long Ashton, Bishop Sutton etc – Bristol? • Other Plans in South Gloucestershire – Charfield well under way – Pucklechurch started late 2016 – Oldbury on Severn

Some Issues • Time – at least 18 months, in practice maybe two years or more • Absence of valid Local Plan – what are we in conformity with? • West of England JSP adds extra level • Will any weight be given to Plans in progress? • Does South Gloucestershire’s lack of Five Year Housing Supply mean it gets over-ruled?