www.uppinghamfirst.co.uk

UPPINGHAM A NEXT GENERATION COMMUNITY

Pop. 4800 - 150 employers

Neighbourhood Planning A Community Perspective

January 8th 2014

Ron Simpson

Agenda • Introductions • Neighbourhood Planning – Localism Act 2011 – Government

response to a prolonged PC campaign• Who should do it and why?• What support is there to help community groups ? • What does a Neighbourhood Plan look like?• What is the process ? • Case Study – Uppingham• Questions and discussion• Is Greetham ready to take the first steps?

a) Should the Greetham community prepare a Plan?

b) Who is willing to be involved in an initial steering group?

c) Are there any obvious community champions to approach who are not present?

d) Who will call the first steering group meeting?• Summary and close

Neighbourhood Plan • What is it? A community led local vision statement and

action plan, for the area and period defined in the Plan, which contributes to sustainability and complements the strategic elements of RCC’s county wide plan

• Who must approve it and submit it for external examination and a ballot? Greetham PC & RCC basic conditions.

• Who should prepare it? The Greetham community working together the ideal

• What does a Neighbourhood Plan look like? Pass round

• How is it different to a Parish Plan or Village Design Statement? Statutory status & consultation/Regard/CIL

• What is the process to follow?

Process or Roadmap • Getting Started• Agree the Plan boundary• Engage community including businesses • Aims, Vision, Themes • Build the evidence base• Draft Plan and accompanying SEA• Consult• Finalise Plan• Submit to LPA • Independent Examination• Referendum

www.uppinghamfirst.co.uk

UPPINGHAM A NEXT GENERATION COMMUNITY

Pop. 4800 - 150 employers

Neighbourhood Planning A Community Perspective

January 8th 2014

Ron Simpson

NEXT GENERATION COMMUNITY?• Localism enacted - participative and empowered• Sufficient quality housing and parking• Local access to high quality public services• Economically vibrant/self sustaining• Safe and healthy with optional monitoring• Environment and heritage protected• Fibre to the premise with a choice of providers• Virtual and physical visitors – Electric? • Quality businesses offering local employment• High quality public and private education

Community Action and Consultation Prior to Localism Bill

• Parish Plan 2007- Community consultation• Town Council acquires Quality Status • 2010 Uppingham 2025 – Business Consultation • Partnerships, Neighbourhood and Business

Forums • Community and Business Newsletters quarterly• Interactive web site www.uppinghamfirst.co.uk • Residents Groups/Associations formed• UTC votes to seek Gen. Power of Competence

Neighbourhood Plan Activity • Uppingham First, the Neighbourhood Forum

and both councils act promptly to secure Front Runner status and grant

• All inclusive Task Group formed by Uppingham First which becomes working group of UTC chaired by business director Edward Baines

• Area of Plan widened to whole town

• UTC hosts community consultation day• Task Group collates ideas and identifies themes • Development sites consultation published by

County Council

Neighbourhood Plan Themes

Protecting character and heritage Further development of Community Facilities &

Services Tourism and public signage Technology & Infrastructure Housing Industry and Employment Transport Retail Centre and Market Square The Environment & Preservation of Important Open

Space Economic Development & Sustainability Design and Access Tods Piece & Community Hub

Activity Todate 2• Business and Community Questionnaires

drafted. Community engaged via website and newspaper articles, newsletters, presentations to primary schools and residents groups, radio interviews and telephone calls to housebound

• Databases constructed and analysed • Discussion with developers leads to ‘Meet the

Developers’ community workshop• Task Group publishes their recommendations • Community vote to agree/disagree. Results

published online and in newsletter.

Activity Todate 3• Task Group shortlists housing sites• Plan drafted with recommendations for action

under 12 themes• Design Council and DCLG visits • First and second drafts presented to Forums for

comment, then to Town Council for final amendment and approval. Sustainability Study prepared using SEA Template. In summary:-

18 months of hard work

30+ Meetings of Task Group

20+ Drafts of Plan (3 public)

40 Page Plan

Total expenditure under £12k

Benefits Todate• Community engagement• Business involvement and commitment• Shared Vision• Substantial community support• Idea generator• Action Plan for the future created• Town Council and County Council working

together

Key Lessons• A powerful and empowering process• Drives community engagement • Requires time and volunteer support• Integrates business and community thinking• Business and community champions emerge• Be ambitious and use interim voting• Engage the landowners and developers• Use government funded support agencies • Be sensitive to the concerns of principal

authority officers and members

Online References

www.uppinghamneighbourhoodplan.info

www.uppinghamfirst.co.uk

Roadmap Guide

http://locality.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Roadmap-worksheets-map-May-13.pdf