Neighbourhood Areas - How to Apply
- What is a Neighbourhood Area?
A Neighbourhood Area is the area that the policies and proposals in a Neighbourhood Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order will apply.
- What are the statutory requirements for a Neighbourhood Area?
The statutory requirements for a Neighbourhood Area can be found in:
- Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulation 2012 (as amended); and
- Sections 61F to 61I of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).
- Who can make an application for a Neighbourhood Area?
A Neighbourhood Plan must be prepared by a “qualifying body”.
In terms of parished areas, this will be either a town or parish council.
As for non-parished areas, a Neighbourhood Forum will need to be formed and approved by the local planning authority (or authorities). Please see Part 3 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and Section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) for further information about Neighbourhood Forums.
- What must be included in an application for a Neighbourhood Area?
All applications for the designation of a Neighbourhood Area must include:
(1) An Ordnance Survey Map of the proposed Neighbourhood Area.
The map must clearly identify and outline the proposed Neighbourhood Area.
If the proposed Neighbourhood Area is partially (not wholly) within the National Park, then the map must clearly show the boundary of the National Park, along with which areas are inside and outside of the National Park.
(2) A Statement explaining why the proposed Neighbourhood Area is appropriate.
The statement should explain why the proposed Neighbourhood Area is considered to be appropriate for designation as a Neighbourhood Area. It should be short, clear, and include a description of how the area was chosen – i.e., it is an existing parish boundary, or it is demarcated by specific landscape elements and/or historic boundaries etc.
(3) A Statement that the Organisation or Body making the application is a Relevant Body.
The statement should explain that the organisation or body making the application is a relevant body for the purposes of Section 61G of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). Where a Neighbourhood Forum is also being proposed, Section 61F is also applicable.
- How can an application for a Neighbourhood Area be submitted?
Any applications to designate a Neighbourhood Area should be submitted to the local planning authority. This will either be the SDNPA for proposed Neighbourhood Areas wholly within the National Park, or the SDNPA and any neighbouring local planning authority (i.e., a district council) for proposed Neighbourhood Areas partially within the National Park.
In terms of the SDNPA, all applications must be submitted to:
- Email: neighbourhood@southdowns.gov.uk; or
- Post: South Downs Centre, North Street, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9DH.
The SDNPA – and any neighbouring local planning authority as applicable – will carry out any public consultation (if necessary and as required by regulations) before then determining whether to designate the proposed Neighbourhood Area.