The Government have accepted amendments to the Neighbourhood Plan bill, which have been championed by Baroness Cumberlege and the Member of Parliament for Lewes Maria Caulfield.
Late last year, Newick, saw its Neighbourhood plan overruled by the Secretary of State in favour of a new planning application. There was fury at this decision from the village including local residents, councillors and the local MP. Since then, by working together, new safeguards protecting neighbhourood plans have been introduced by the Government after Baroness Cumberlege introduced an amendment to the Government’s new planning bill.
A Newick resident herself, Baroness Cumberlege understood the invaluable service that Neighbourhood Plans provide and the unacceptable government oversight that occurred when the Newick Neighbourhood plan was overlooked by developers.
Maria and Baroness Cumberlege have simultaneously pressured the Government to adopt legislation that will provide legislative safeguards to Neighbourhood Plans, and also that the legislation recognises their importance and value.
The Lords Amendment 4 will require local planning authorities automatically to notify parish councils and designated neighbourhood forums of any future planning applications in the relevant neighbourhood area. Parish councils and designated neighbourhood forums will be able to opt out of automatic notification or request that they are notified only of applications of a particular type. However, they will have the automatic right to be notified.
Lords amendment 5 will allow the Secretary of State, through regulations, to prescribe further requirements that an examiner of a neighbourhood plan or a neighbourhood development order must follow in engaging with those with an interest in the examination. The amendment will allow the Secretary of State to make regulations that place a duty on the person appointed to examine a neighbourhood plan or a neighbourhood development order to provide information to, and hold meetings with, parish councils, designated neighbourhood forums, local planning authorities and others, and to publish their draft recommendations.
This is a fantastic victory for all of those who vehemently opposed the outcome of the Mitchelswood development and is a signal of the effective ability of Maria and Baroness Cumberlege to shape legislation and to pressure the Government into taking direct action to rectify constituent disillusionment.
Maria commented: “I am pleased that the Government has recognised the importance of the validity of the Neighbourhood Plan and have accepted these amendments. This will not only uphold Newick’s neighbourhood plan in the future but all Neighbourhood plans in the country.”
“This legislation will protect Neighbourhood Plans and gives them far more legislative power for their influence to be noted. It will prevent Plans from being disregarded by developers, which will fall upon glad ears in Newick.”
“I would like to thank Baroness Cumberlege and Councillor Jim Sheppard for their critical support on this issue, as this could not have been achieved without their expertise and persistence.”