A Neighbourhood Development Plan is a new type of planning document. It is part of the Government’s new approach to planning, which aims to give local people more say about what goes on in their area. This is set out in the Localism Act 2011 that came into force in April 2012. Although the Government’s intention is for local people to decide what goes on in their area, the Localism Act sets out some important requirements. One of these is that all Neighbourhood Plans must be in line with higher level planning policy, namely the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012) and – for Herefordshire – the Herefordshire Local Plan (2014).
The NPPF retains the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’, as defined by five principles: (1) living within the planet’s environmental limits; (2) ensuring a strong, healthy and just society; (3) achieving a sustainable economy; (4) promoting good governance; and (5) using sound science responsibly.
Neighbourhood Plans are required to be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Plan (Development Plan) of the Local Planning Authority. “Once a Neighbourhood Plan has demonstrated its general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Plan and is brought into force, the policies it contains take precedence over existing non-strategic policies in the Local Plan for that neighbourhood, where they are in conflict.” (extract from para.185, NPPF 2012).
At the centre of the Herefordshire Local Plan is The Core Strategy for the period 2011-31, which underwent public examination in February 2015 and is scheduled for adoption later in 2015.
The policies and proposals of our Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) will follow the principles of the NPPF and are in general conformity with Herefordshire’s Local Plan. They will set out the clear wishes of the community of Group Parish in respect of the management and control of development to attain appropriate sustainable growth within the Humber, Ford & Stoke Prior Neighbourhood Plan Area.
Once this NDP is adopted as part of the statutory development plan for the Humber, Ford & Stoke Prior Plan Area, it will be a primary consideration when determining planning applications within the Plan Area. In cases where a decision is sought on the basis of material considerations not in accord with the NDP, applicants and appellants have to clearly demonstrate that this is the case.