What is neighbourhood planning?

What is neighbourhood planning?

Neighbourhood planning is a key part of the Government’s Localism agenda. It aims to give local communities greater power to shape development by taking a more active role in the development of planning policies at a local level. Within the East Riding, neighbourhood planning will be led by town and parish councils, with East Riding of Yorkshire Council providing technical assistance and making necessary decisions at key stages.

Neighbourhood planning can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, it can be used to:

• identify where new homes, shops and industrial uses should be built
• have a say on what new buildings look like
• grant planning permission for new development that a community wants.

Neighbourhood plan

With a neighbourhood plan communities can create a vision and planning policies for the use and development of land in a neighbourhood. For example, where new homes should be built and what they should look like. Neighbourhood plans can be general or more detailed, depending on what local people want.  They must be however, be in general conformity with the strategic policies in the council’s adopted Local Plan and should not be used to promote a lower level of development than is set out in the Local Plan.

Neighbourhood order

With a neighbourhood order communities can grant planning permission for developments they want to see go ahead in a neighbourhood. For example, allowing certain developments, such as extensions to houses, to be built without the need to apply for planning permission.

Community Right to Build Order

A Community Right to Build Order is a type of neighbourhood order which gives community organisations the power to deliver development the local community want without the need to apply for planning permission. For example, communities may wish to build new affordable homes or new community amenities. Receipts from development stay within the community and are used for community benefit, for example, to provide and maintain local facilities such as village halls.

How are neighbourhood plans and orders prepared?

Neighbourhood plans and orders are prepared through a formal process before they can be adopted by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. This includes designating the ‘neighbourhood area’ that will be covered by the plan or order, public consultation and an assessment by an independent examiner. They must also be agreed at a local referendum before they can be adopted.

Detailed arrangements for neighbourhood planning are set out in the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (and subsequent amendments).

A summary of the key steps involved in the preparation of neighbourhood plans and orders is available to view below:

Neighbourhood planning process diagram (pdf 335kb)

What progresshas been made with neighbourhood plans?

The file below sets out the latest position with the progress on the various neighbourhood plans in the East Riding:

Neighbourhood plans - progress note (pdf 89kb)

What is a neighbourhood plan area application?

Designation of a neighbourhood area is the first stage in the preparation of a neighbourhood plan. The relevant town or parish council looking to prepare a neighbourhood plan submits an application to East Riding of Yorkshire Council requesting their area be designated a neighbourhood area for the purposes of preparing a neighbourhood plan. This application is called an area application.

Only one neighbourhood plan can be adopted for each neighbourhood area although it is possible for more than one town or parish council to come together to form a single neighbourhood area. In most cases, it is expected that a neighbourhood area will follow existing town or parish boundaries.

How can I submit an area application?

Area applications include a map identifying the proposed neighbourhood area and information on why the area is considered appropriate for the purposes of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The easiest way to submit an area application is to complete the application form available below:

Area Application Form (word 33kb) 

Once completed please send the form to: 

Forward Planning
Room AS67
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
County Hall
Beverley
HU17 9BA 

Email: forward.planning@eastriding.gov.uk 

Please contact Forward Planning for help completing this form.

Has the council designated any neighbourhood areas?

Yes. The council has approved all area applications listed below, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (and subsequent amendments).

• Allerthorpe - designated February 2014
• Barmby Moor - desingated March 2016
  
• Cottingham - designated June 2013
• Hayton and Burnby - designated January 2016
• Howden - designated May 2017
  
• Market Weighton - designated February 2014
  
• North Cave - designated June 2014
• Pocklington - designated June 2014
• Skidby - designated July 2017
  
• Sutton upon Derwent - designated February 2014
• Woodmansey - designated November 2013
• Wawne - designated June 2014

Will my area be covered by neighbourhood planning?

Neighbourhood planning is an optional tier of planning. Town and parish councils do not have to create a neighbourhood plan or order. If a town or parish council chooses not to produce a neighbourhood plan or order, planning applications submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire Council will still have to conform to the existing development plan.

You may wish to contact your town or parish council to find out if they are seeking to prepare a neighbourhood development plan or order.

What is the difference between a neighbourhood plan and a parish plan?

Neighbourhood planning is not entirely new. Some communities are already involved in planning for their area through community-led parish plans. Community-led parish plans cover all things important to a community and are not directly linked to the planning system. Neighbourhood plans relate to the use and development of land.

Community-led parish plans remain valid tools for parish councils to use and provide a more informal basis on which to undertake neighbourhood planning. East Riding has 168 parish councils of which over 50 have been involved in the community-led parish planning process.

More information about community-led parish planning can be found on our community-led parish planning page.

How does neighbourhood planning link with other planning policy?

Neighbourhood plans are the first plans developed at a parish council level with legal force. They are formal statutory documents and are additional to, not a replacement for, the emerging East Riding Local Plan.

If a neighbourhood plan is adopted after following the formal process set out above, it will be used by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to make decisions on planning applications.

What funding is available to Town and Parish Councils for Neighbourhood Planning?

Town and parish councils lead and resource the preparation of a neighbourhood plan or order and the associated public consultation. External funding and support is available to do this, in addition to the support and advice offered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has committed to making £23 million between 2018 and 2022 to provide community groups with expert advice, grant funding and technical assistance for neighbourhood planning. The programme is being delivered by Locality, a national network of community-led organisations, on behalf of MHCLG. 

Town and parish councils demonstrating a need for grant support will be eligible to apply for up to £9,000 in a basic grant. This money could cover developing a website, training sessions for members of the steering group, help with putting together a project plan, undertaking a household survey, help with developing the evidence base, engaging a planning expert and venue hire, publicity materials, printing and other costs associated with consultation. More complex neighbourhood plans and orders may be eligible for additional grant funding of up to £8,000 and access to a variety of additional technical support packages. 

This funding is confirmed to April 2022 and further information, including details on how to apply, is available here:

Neighbourhood Planning website (external website)

Other sources of funding

Awards for All provides small lottery grants of between £300 and £10,000. They fund a wide range of community projects and have previously provided funds for town and parish councils in the East Riding. 

Further information on the eligibility criteria and how to apply for this funding is available here:

Big Lottery Fund website (external website)

Town and parish councils may also wish to contact the funding team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council for support on grants and funding within the community sector.

What supportdoes the council offer to town and parish councils for neighbourhood planning?    

The council actively supports neighbourhood planning and has a statutory duty to provide advice and assistance to town and parish councils as they prepare neighbourhood plans. 

The council has a policy for giving advice and assistance in relation to neighbourhood planning. The policy confirms the council will provide the following support to town and parish councils in relation to neighbourhood planning: 

• Attend an initial meeting with the town or parish council to discuss the process for preparing a neighbourhood plan or order
  
• Attend an agreed number of Steering Group meetings per year where the council’s specific input is required and requested
  
• Publish and maintain a series of Topic Notes and supplementary information on neighbourhood planning
  
• Make relevant elements of the East Riding Local Plan evidence base available
  
• Provide comments on emerging neighbourhood plan policies, or draft orders; and
  
• Meet all relevant tasks and timescales prescribed by the related Regulations. 

The council’s neighbourhood planning policy is available to view below:

Neighbourhood Planning Policy (pdf 76kb)

This offer of support, as outlined in the policy, is supplemented by the council’s Neighbourhood Planning Memorandum of Understanding. This has been prepared to set out the nature of the advice and assistance available to town and parish councils. 

This includes additional professional and technical support offered to town and parish councils at a charge. This is an option for town and parish councils who may lack local skills, expertise and capacity to complete the technical work necessary to support their plan.

The Memorandum of Understanding is available to view below: 

Memorandum of Understanding (pdf 200kb)

Where can I find more information about neighbourhood planning?

The council has prepared a series of topic notes providing further guidance on neighbourhood planning. The topic notes and a summary of each note are available to view below:

1. Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning

Explains what neighbourhood plans and orders are and provides information on the different types of plans and orders, the role of town and parish councils in neighbourhood planning and examples of neighbourhood plans in the East Riding.

Note 1 - Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning (pdf 231kb)

2. Neighbourhood Planning and the East Riding Local Plan

Provides further information on the East Riding Local Plan and explains the relationship between neighbourhood planning and the Local Plan. 

Note 2 - Neighbourhood Planning and the East Riding Local Plan (pdf 176kb)

3. Step by Step Guide to preparing Neighbourhood Plans and Orders

Explains in detail the process for preparing a neighbourhood plan or order. The role of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and town and parish councils is explained.

Note 3 - Step by Step Guide to preparing Neighbourhood Plans and Order (pdf 1.1mb)

4. Undertaking Environmental Assessments

Considers environmental assessments and when they are required. Explains the process for requesting a Screening Opinion from East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Note 4 - Undertaking Environmental Assessments (pdf 552kb)

5. Guide to community consultation and engagement

Considers community consultation for neighbourhood plans and orders. Provides advice and best practice on how to involve the community in the preparation of plans and orders.

Note 5 - Guide to community consultation and engagement  (pdf 9.2mb)

6. Support and funding for Town and Parish Councils

Explains the support offered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to town and parish councils and provides up to date information on sources of funding.

Note 6 - Support and funding for Town and Parish Councils (pdf 180kb) 

7. Further Information 

Neighbourhood Planning News 

The council have prepared a newsletter for town and parish councils, which contains guidance on neighbourhood planning and examples of what is happening in the East Riding.

Neighbourhood Planning News - Winter 2016/17 (pdf 423kb)

Where can I find more information about the Localism Act?

Neighbourhood planning has been enabled though the Localism Act 2011. A Briefing Note provided to town and parish councils on the planning implications of the Localism Act is available to view below.

Briefing note for town and parish council on the Localism Act 2011 (pdf 168kb)

The following link is another useful source of information:

Department for Communities and Local Government: A plain English guide to the Localism Act 2011 (external website)