Accessibility of useful datasets for neighbourhood planning

Frances Kirwan/ Clare Clark 21 st March 2013

Background

• • • • • A survey of Neighbourhood Planning frontrunners by Locality, on behalf of the Panel, generated a list of data which those already involved in neighbourhood planning had found useful.

Panel members agreed that: 1. A list of useful data could prove helpful to those new to neighbourhood planning, who did not know what sort of data is available or where to look for it 2. The list highlighted opportunities for data that could be opened up with benefits for communities involved in planning.

• • We agreed to: Enhance the usefulness of the list, highlighting data sources and whether data is available openly. See Word table.

Consider next steps for supporting those interested in local planning issues. In doing so, we have joined up with Neighbourhood Planning colleagues The neighbourhood planning team is working to mobilise communities. Opening up data would be a key part of this. There is lots of interesting work going on locally, and examples of good practice, on making data available.

Local authorities are encouraged to make data available

Examples of existing good practice

• Shropshire Council published Oswestry Market Town Profile with maps, demographic statistics, deprivation statistics, journey to work times etc. See Appendix 2 of: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/planningpolicy.nsf/viewAttachments/EWET 954L3J/$file/oswestry-neighbourhood-plan-bid.pdf

• • • Arun District Council provide a package of data to each of their neighbourhood planning groups: • A map package which consists of boundary, built up area boundary, flooding (fluvial and tidal), heritage, landscape constraints, nature designation, services, green infrastructure network parish community profiles Studies and surveys previously commissioned by ADC, which can be used as a starting point for the evidence base of the NDP

Examples of existing good practice linkeddata.hants.gov.uk

Examples of existing good practice

• • Lots of independent work underway, particularly in charities, consultancies etc. to make searchable, mappable tools that include lots of data. Particularly new, small-scale, local, social-media based

Opening up data on neighbourhood planning

• • • DCLG informally collect information on progress of neighbourhood planning areas on the ground, through: • Local authority website monitoring • Media monitoring • Direct engagement with neighbourhood planning areas and local authorities We want to make this open – encourage people to use/update/correct the information on their areas • All neighbourhood planning areas must be designated. Local authorities publish these areas online for consultation, meaning there is already a spread of neighhourhood planning data available online.

We are now trialing a format via Open Street Map to bring together data of where areas are, incorporate parish/designated boundaries and allow areas to add/amend the data.

Current material - examples

The results (so far)

Basic app to query OSM and display information about each area via an interactive map http://dclgexamples.mywebcommunity.org/npf/westsussexdemo.html

The results (so far) (2)

OSM wiki to explain the work, and encourage/stimulate community participation

Opportunities

1.

As a first step, it could be useful to publish the list of data, with links where possible – there are multiple ways we could make this available.

2.

• • We will make DCLG data available: • Test with users • Roll out to include all data Publish on OSM Encourage neighbourhood planning community to use, update, edit Users could enhance this nationally/locally which could be a welcome tool in the neighbourhood planning process e.g. neighbouring areas could update data where new areas appear.

3.

Encourage communities, authorities, interested groups to make data available (via Open • • • • Street Map or other ways): • Land available for housing • Transport links Sites of Special Scientific Interest Green belt ?Population density ?Indicators of Multiple Deprivation

Views from the Panel