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Changes to Neighbourhood and Community Planning



Changes to Neighbourhood and Community Planning

April 21, 2020

As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic the Ministry of Communities Housing and Local Government have announced some important changes to Neighbourhood Planning. While most of the SDNP Neighbourhood Plans have progressed to their adoption there are a number of groups who continue to prepare plans that will be affected by these changes. The changes can be summarised as:

  • The regulations linked to the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that no elections or referendums can take place before 6 May 2021. This will have implications for some of our Neighbourhood Planning groups, whose Neighbourhood Referendums will be delayed. These provisions will be kept under review and may be amended or revoked in response to changing circumstances.
  • The ministry recognise that this will be frustrating for many communities who have invested a lot of time, effort and resources in the preparation of their Neighbourhood Plans, for that reason the MHCLG have also updated the Planning Guidance to set out that Neighbourhood Plans awaiting referendums can be given significant weight in decision making.
  • Planning Guidance also provides advice for Communities and Planning Authorities planning public consultations relating to Neighbourhood Plans, the advice asks Authorities and communities to consider the Governments current guidance on staying at home and away from others before running Regulation 14 or Regulation 16 Consultations.
  • Planning Practice Guidance provides advice for Communities and Planning Authorities planning public consultations relating to Neighbourhood Plans. The advice asks Authorities and communities to consider the Governments current guidance on staying at home and away from others before running Regulation 14 or Regulation 16 Consultations. Given the guidance from MHCLG the South Downs National Park Authority has taken the decision to suspend any public consultations relating to Neighbourhood Planning or other Community Planning documents given their nature and the timeframes involved. This decision will be kept under review and amended should circumstances change. Any Neighbourhood or Community Planning groups affected by this decision should contact the Authority on Neighbourhood@southdowns.gov.uk or contact their SDNPA support officer.