Transcript Slide 1

Neighbourhood
Planning in
Wolverhampton
The Presentation
• The Wolverhampton
context, and the story so
far
• The Neighbourhood Plans
• Emerging Issues
• Governance and Project
Management
• Lessons leaned
• Next steps
• Questions
Strategic Planning context
– Black Country Core Strategy adopted February 2011 based on
reversing population decline, supporting economic growth and
environmental enhancement.
– Target of 14,000 new homes, improved employment areas and
vibrant City Centre by 2026 for Wolverhampton.
– Core Strategy identifies a Growth Network of the City Centre and
Regeneration Corridors where new development will be
focussed.
• Area Action Plans being prepared to promote development in the
Growth Network.
– Neighbourhood Plans will also support the Core Strategy by
providing a detailed planning framework for some areas outside
the Growth Network.
Neighbourhood Planning –
the story so far
•
Bid for Frontrunner status in March
2011 for three Plans.
•
DCLG award of £20,000 to
progress each plan
•
Cabinet approval to progress the
Heathfield Park and Tettenhall
Plans secured in June, and Bilston
in September 2011.
•
Plans largely based on Local
Neighbourhood Partnership areas
•
Sustainability Appraisals being
undertaken on all Plans
Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan
•
Attractive western suburban
fringe location with areas of
Green Belt, outside the Growth
Network
•
Population of 22,000 and high
proportion of professional
households
•
Strong community interest in
planning with existing LNP
Planning and Conservation
Group
•
Area sought after by property
developers to build high quality
homes
•
Pressure on back-land
development out of character
with the area
Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan
– Progress so far
•
Community initiated - long
standing interest in Planning
•
Community Steering Group
regularly meet to progress NP
(set up in July 2011) – approx 10
people
•
Stakeholder Workshop Nov 2011
– run by the Princes Foundation
•
Community Launch Feb / March
2012 – to gain consensus on
issues.
•
Theme Group workshops and
road shows being undertaken
•
Household and Business Survey
programmed for Summer 2012,
along with other technical work.
Emerging Issues….
• Traffic and congestion
• Providing a better choice and mix of housing, but with
limited opportunities for new development
• Protecting environmental assets, local character and
distinctiveness
• Better access to employment opportunities
• Protection of community facilities and better local
services
• Reconciling competing priorities
• There is strong commonality on these issues for the
Neighbourhood Plans being prepared
Governance arrangements and the role
of the Council
• Governance arrangements
– Community directly supported by Local Neighbourhood
Partnership Officers on a day to day basis as well as regular
liaison with Planning Officer
– Sign off of work by the Local Neighbourhood Partnership Board
– Approvals currently required from WCC Cabinet at key stages
• Community Resource
– People committed to the Plan, some with Planning skills others
dedicating time
– Monthly Steering Group meetings to progress Plans, with
additional meetings during busy periods
– Steering Group essential, with sub-groups where/when needed
Governance arrangements and the role
of the Council
• Role of the Council
– Agree the neighbourhood boundary
– Financial support for evidence, consultation and
Examination / referendum £50-70K per plan in
addition to CLG grant.
– Professional support of 2.5 FTE between Planning
and LNP Service for the three Plans
– Procurement of technical evidence
– Pre-examination check
– Organise and pay for the examination / referendum
– Adopt
Adopting a Project management
approach
• Develop a Project Plan
• Agree terms of reference for the Steering Groups
and any sub-groups.
• Confirm role and responsibilities of partners –
Council Officers and Members, Community
Group and stakeholders
• Agree timetable and stick to it.
• Identify key risks and actively manage them.
How much evidence and at what cost?
•
Core Strategy evidence provides good starting point – strategic Employment
and Housing Studies, Flood Risk, Retail and Centres and Transportation.
•
What else needs to be done to supplement this:
•
•
Sustainability appraisal - £5k
•
Community questionnaire - £12k
•
Surveys of employment areas and occupiers - £3-5k
•
Environmental Surveys - £5k
•
Characterisation Studies - £10k
•
Masterplan - £10k
•
•
Consider the need for professional planning support – for example, to write
the final plan (£5k)
Communications and consultation (£10K)
Referendum / Examination costs (£10-20K)
•
Grand total = £60-90k
Next steps
• Neighbourhood Plans, Area Action Plans or
Community led Development Plans?
• Evidence gathering and Options
development Summer 2012
• Draft Plans by December 2012
• Examination / Referendum / Adoption 2013
Lessons learned
• Its been a positive experience for all parties.
• Buy-in at all levels and across all organisations
is critical.
• Put a lot of effort in early to make sure project
management arrangements are fit for purpose.
• There is some flexibility in the way you can
prepare the Plan
• Local people know their areas well, but use
evidence to support the plan.
• Celebrate short-term wins to make it real.
Lessons learned
• All areas are different but similar issues and
themes are emerging.
• Don’t underestimate the level of human and
financial resource needed.
• Success should be measured in a number of
ways – appreciate the ‘soft’ wins and not just the
end product.
• What are the issues in the ‘Neighbourhood’, and
what sort of Plan – if any – is needed to respond
to this?
Different types of Neighbourhood Plans emerging
Neighbourhood Development
Order (Minor development )
Mini Local Plan
•Comprehensive coverage
of policy issues.
•Allocate development sites
for wide range of uses
Single Policy Document
•Neighbourhood Plan covering
a single policy issue (e.g.
Protection of green space)
•Residential – minor development
(e.g. house extensions, windows)
•Town centre - change of use /
minor changes signage
•Business park / industrial estate
minor development
Neighbourhood Development
Order (Site specific)
•Development of a particular site
(e.g. small housing scheme under
CRtB)
Policy and Allocation
Plans
•Neighbourhood plans covering
a narrower range of issues.
•Often theme specific
•Allocate development sites
for narrow range of uses.
Policy Plans
•Neighbourhood plans covering
a broad range of policy issues.
•No site allocations.
•Similar to Parish Plans.
•Augment Local Plan policy
The alternative…
Better involvement with the Council on the Plans being prepared
A collaborative approach where decisions are made together
Questions?
• Contact details:
[email protected]
• Website links:
Wolverhampton LDF www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/ldf
Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan www.ourplaceourplan.org.uk
Heathfield Park Neighbourhood Plan www.wton-partnership.org.uk/heathfield-park