From today, Government grants to individual
neighbourhood planning groups in both urban and
deprived areas will increase to £18,000. This follows
funding increasing from £9,000 to £10,000 in May to
help with the effects of coronavirus.
The funding boost will strengthen the voice of local
communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas in
England.
The Government also announced it is providing these
groups with access to additional technical expertise
free of charge, such as for assessing their area’s
housing needs, or developing masterplans.
Today’s changes follow last week’s launch of Planning
for the Future – the Government’s overhaul of the
outdated planning system to deliver the high-quality,
sustainable homes communities need.
At the heart of the proposed reforms are measures to
ensure local communities are consulted from the very
beginning of the planning process. By harnessing the
latest technology through online maps and data, the
whole system will be made more accessible.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon MP
said:
The Government is overhauling the country’s outdated
planning system to deliver the high-quality
sustainable homes the country needs.
Under the new system local communities will be in the
driving seat deciding what is built and where. I want
to ensure all communities have a strong voice in this
process which is why I am doubling the funding
available in some of the most deprived parts of the
country to help residents in these areas shape the
future of their neighbourhoods.
Cllr Sue Baxter, Chairman, National Association of
Local Councils said:
England’s local (parish & town) councils are at
the forefront of neighbourhood planning and make up
the vast majority of the 2,600 places using this
important tool in the planning system to shape
development and housing in their areas.
This additional grant funding for disadvantaged
communities is particularly welcome and will provide
a vital extra boost to help hundreds of areas prepare
a plan.
NALC would encourage local councils in those areas to
use this additional funding to get started on
neighbourhood planning to help build back better
communities.
Communities with an adopted neighbourhood plan in
unparished areas are able to fast track the process
to set up a local council so they can also benefit
from local leadership and support the wider benefits
and ambitions of neighbourhood planning.
Tony Burton, Convener of Neighbourhood Planners. London
said:
With the planning system undergoing major reform it
has never been more important that communities take
advantage of their right to plan their neighbourhood.
We welcome the new and additional support to
neighbourhood forums across London and other urban
areas.
This will help put local communities on the front
foot in planning the future of their areas.
- Neighbourhood planning groups are local people who
shape planning decisions in their area – such as the
location of new homes, shops, offices and green spaces
– through the production of neighbourhood plans.
- Neighbourhood planning enables communities to play
a much stronger role in shaping the areas in which they
live and work and in supporting new development
proposals. A neighbourhood plan forms part of the
development plan and sits alongside the local plan
prepared by the local planning authority, as the
starting point for planning decisions.
- Neighbourhood planning groups who wish to seek
funding and technical support can do so by applying
through Locality’s website: neighbourhoodplanning.org
- The criteria for falling in to an ‘urban’ area is
being non-parished; the criteria for falling in to a
‘deprived’ area is being amongst the 20% most deprived
areas in England in accordance with the Index of
Multiple Deprivation; and therefore areas that are
either non-parished, amongst the 20% most deprived
areas, or both non-parished and amongst the 20% most
deprived areas, would be eligible for the additional
grant and technical support.
