Neighbourhood Planning
Neighbourhood Planning is a new way for communities to decide the future of the places where they live and work.
Communities will be able to:
- Choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built
- Have their say on what those new buildings should look like
- Grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead
The Government has introduced the right to do neighbourhood planning through the Localism Act 2011, and the formal right to do neighbourhood planning will follow during 2012.
Neighbourhood planning can be taken forward by two types of body – town and parish councils or ‘neighbourhood forums’. Neighbourhood forums are community groups that are designed to take forward neighbourhood planning in areas without parishes.
Additional information and guidance can be viewed at the following websites:
Existing tools for neighbourhood planning – RTPI [pdf document]
The Council’s Role
It is the local planning authority’s role to keep an overview of all the difference requests to do neighbourhood planning in their area.
They will check suggested boundaries for different neighbourhoods and check community groups meet the right standards when creating neighbourhood forums. The local planning authority will be obliged by law to help people draw up their neighbourhood plans.
If you want to find out more about some of the things that the Council has to consider in dealing with neighbourhood planning, please visit the Planning Advisory Service website [external link]
Darlington Borough Council is not actively working with any neighbourhood groups to prepare such plans, but will respond to any new enquiries made.
You can contact us on 01325 388644, at planning.policy@darlington.gov.uk, or make your comments in writing to:
Strategy Section (Planning Policy)
FREEPOST NEA2890
Town Hall
Darlington
DL1 5QT