involvement in planning applications and the local plan

Involvement in planning applications and the Local Plan – Statement of Community Involvement

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Involvement in planning applications and the Local Plan

Statement of Community Involvement

Approved on 3 November 2015. This document replaces the previous Statement of Community Involvement adopted in 2008.

BD6765 Bristol Design, Bristol City Council.

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Contents

1. Introduction 1

What is the Statement of Community Involvement? .................................................................. 1

Aim and benefits of effective involvement ................................................................................. 1

Delivering effective involvement - use of ground rules .............................................................. 1

2. Involvement in planning applications 4

Involvement before an application is submitted ............................................................... 5

Importance and benefits of pre-application community involvement ....................................... 5

Council’s expectations for effective pre-application involvement .............................................. 5

Encouraging effective pre-application involvement ................................................................... 7

Involvement when an application is submitted ................................................................. 8

Publicity and consultation by the council................................................................................... 8

Making a decision on the application ......................................................................................... 8

Community involvement in planning obligations .............................................................9

Community Infrastructure Levy ........................................................................................9

Planning applications with potential cross-boundary impacts ......................................10

3. Involvement in planning policy documents 11

Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 11

Who will be involved? .............................................................................................................. 11

How will they be involved? ....................................................................................................... 12

Involvement in preparing the Local Plan .................................................................................. 13

Involvement in neighbourhood development plans ................................................................. 15

Involvement in preparing Supplementary Planning Documents .............................................. 17

Involvement in other non-statutory planning documents ........................................................ 18

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The Government’s Planning Practice Guidance expects forums to ensure the wider community is kept fully informed of what is being proposed and has opportunities to be involved in shaping the emerging plan. The council will continue to offer advice to forums on how effective involvement can take place and, where resources allow, provide assistance in carrying out the involvement.

3.22 Whilst most community engagement in the preparation of neighbourhood development plans will be led by the neighbourhood planning forum, there are certain stages where the council carries out formal consultation:

Application to designate a neighbourhood planning area

3.23 The council publishes on its website the name and map of the proposed neighbourhood planning area, the name of the relevant body who applied for the designation and details about how to comment. It also notifies and seeks comment from members of the Local Plan Consultation Database. Following this consultation the council publishes on its website the decision to either designate or refuse the application (with reasons, if refusing).

Application to designate a neighbourhood planning forum

3.24 The council publishes on its website a copy of the application made by the prospective forum and details about how to comment. It also notifies and seeks comment from members of the Local Plan Consultation Database. If the council agrees to designate the forum, it will publish on its website the forum’s name, its constitution and contact details. If the council decides to refuse the designation then it will publish reasons for the refusal on its website.

Submission of a neighbourhood development plan

3.25 Once the neighbourhood planning forum has submitted their finalised neighbourhood development plan following consultation on a draft, the council publishes on its website the plan and supporting documents, including details on how to make comments. It also notifies and seeks comment from members of the Local Plan Consultation Database. Copies of these documents are also made available at the main council offices.

Decision on a neighbourhood development plan

3.26 The council sends a copy of the submitted neighbourhood development plan, the supporting documents and comments received at the submission stage to an appointed Examiner for independent examination. Hearing sessions may or may not be required at the discretion of the Examiner.

3.27 The council then publishes the Examiner’s report and decision statement on its website and makes it available to view at the main council offices. Subject to the Examiner’s recommendation, the council then proceeds to arrange a referendum within the neighbourhood planning area on the plan.

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Contact information

Planning applications Planning policy

Development Management Strategic City Planning

Telephone: 0117 922 3000

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Web: www.bristol.gov.uk/planning Web: www.bristol.gov.uk/planningpolicy

BD6765 Bristol Design, Bristol City Council. Printed on FSC certified paper.