Neighbourhood Planning Forums were bought into effect in April 2012 intended as a tool to enable communities to have a greater say in in the delivery of homes, employment and social facilities within the area. While these cannot be used to block development the intention is to facilitate in the balancing of development for an area, while allowing the community to identify the opportunities and objectives for growth.
The inability to block development has been seen by some to be a flaw of the process, given that the community plans cannot provide for less development than is laid out in the local authority's development plan. The Government response to this criticism is that the tolls are intended to allow for the shaping of development (in terms of design and location) rather than determining the levels of development.
So what happens from here? Following qualification as a 'Neighbourhood Forum' a Neighbourhood Plan is prepared, setting out planning policies for the use of land and development in the neighbourhood. Again, these plans must be consistent with local and national planning policies. Local planning authorities are required to support neighbourhood planning, providing advice and information, and assisting in the consultation process. This whole process is further supported through allocated funding at the local level.
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