St Helens Borough Council Neighbourhood Plan support
Scope of Project
The Government is seeking to increase the production of neighbourhood plans in urban and deprived areas of the country. St Helens Borough Council was awarded a grant from DLUHC to support and promote neighbourhood planning in the Borough and commissioned DAC Planning were commissioned to deliver neighbourhood planning support to community groups on behalf of the Council up to October 2023.
Over the next year, DAC Planning will provide a programme of engagement and support to raise awareness and understanding of neighbourhood planning among residents of the Borough, and to encourage communities, particularly in deprived wards and areas impacted by growth proposed in the Local Plan, to consider producing a neighbourhood plan.
The support will include workshops and targeted engagement, promoted through a social media campaign, promotional and informative material and updates to the Council’s web pages. DAC Planning will also provide general neighbourhood planning support and guidance on behalf of the Council, providing a single point of contact for interested and established community and neighbourhood planning groups.
Witham Neighbourhood Plan
Scope of Project
DAC Planning was appointed in 2022 to support Witham Town Council in the production and submission of the Witham Neighbourhood Plan.
DAC Planning is working closely with the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to develop a vision, objectives and policies for the draft Neighbourhood Plan through a series of workshops. DAC Planning has produced a community survey and publicity material for a stage of pre-Regulation 14 Consultation engagement. Survey feedback from residents will help inform the vision and objectives, and the drafting of the Plan policies for the Regulation 14 Plan.
Project Outcome
After Regulation 14 Consultation, DAC Planning will review and analyse representations received, and provide recommendations to assist in finalising the Plan for submission. DAC Planning will then update the Plan, and produce a Consultation Statement and Basic Conditions Statement for submission.
Steeple Bumpstead Neighbourhood Plan
Scope of Project
DAC Planning was commissioned in 2022 to support the Steeple Bumpstead Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group in the production and submission of the Steeple Bumpstead Neighbourhood Plan.
For the first phase of support, DAC Planning reviewed the work undertaken to date by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group in relation to the production of the draft Neighbourhood Plan. This review considered available information which has informed the production of the draft Plan and the draft Neighbourhood Plan policies.
DAC Planning held a workshop with the Steering Group to recommended amendments to the objectives, policies, supporting text and evidence base of the Steeple Bumpstead Neighbourhood Plan.
Project Outcome
DAC Planning will provide further support to the Steering Group to progress the Neighbourhood Plan to Regulation 14 Consultation and submission.
Hatfield Peverel Neighbourhood Plan, Essex
Scope of Project
Since 2021, DAC Planning has worked with Hatfield Peverel Parish Council in the review and update of the Neighbourhood Plan, and the production of supporting evidence base documents. DAC Planning is helping the Parish Council review and update existing Neighbourhood Development Plan policies and to draft a range of new policies for inclusion in the updated Regulation 14 Consultation Plan.
The support has involved the facilitation of workshops to inform the scope and content of the Neighbourhood Plan review and update, and the production of a Settlement Boundary Review and a Coalescence Safeguarding Zone Assessment.
Project Outcome
DAC Planning is supporting the Council to produce an updated Neighbourhood Development Plan for Regulation 14 consultation.
Feering neighbourhood Plan, essex
Scope of project
DAC Planning is supporting the production of the Feering Neighbourhood Plan. Initially, DAC Planning provided critical friend support during the review of the evidence base and proposed policy direction of the draft Plan. DAC Planning produced a report detailing gaps in the existing evidence base and an assessment of policies in the Draft Neighbourhood Plan.
Working with the Feering Neighbourhood Plan Group, DAC Planning then assisted in the following areas:
- Facilitation of workshops to inform the scope and content of the Neighbourhood Plan;
- Production of the Regulation 14 Draft Neighbourhood Plan;
- Review of Regulation 14 comments received;
- Production of the Consultation Statement; and
- Production of the Basic Conditions Statement.
Project Outcome
The Feering Neighbourhood Plan was made in January 2023.
Kelvedon Neighbourhood Plan
Scope of Project
DAC Planning provided neighbourhood planning support on the production and progression of the Kelvedon Neighbourhood Plan from 2019 to 2021.
The PPG states that the submission of a Neighbourhood Plan should be supported by a detailed Consultation Statement and must demonstrate that the basic conditions outlined in paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 have been met. A Basic Conditions Statement is the main way to demonstrate to a Neighbourhood Plan examiner and Braintree District Council that the requirements of the basic conditions have been met.
In 2020, DAC Planning worked with the Kelvedon Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to help produce the Consultation Statement and Basic Conditions Statement to support the submission of the Neighbourhood Plan to Braintree District Council.
Project Outcome
The Kelvedon Neighbourhood Plan was made in July 2022.
INGATESTONE AND FRYERNING PARISH, ESSEX
Scope of Project
DAC Planning provided neighbourhood planning support on the production and progression of the Ingatestone and Fryerning Neighbourhood Plan from 2019 to 2021.
This project included the review of draft policies and supporting text, as well as the production of draft chapters for the Regulation 14 draft Neighbourhood Plan. DAC Planning worked closely with the Ingatestone and Fryerning Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Committee to understand their vision, aims and objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan, while also complying with National Planning Practice Guidance.
Following Regulation 14 consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan in late 2020, DAC Planning produced the Consultation Statement and Basic Conditions Statement.
Project Outcome
The Ingatestone and Fryerning Neighbourhood Plan was made in August 2022.
Coggeshall Neighbourhood Plan, Essex
Scope of Project
In January 2018 DAC Planning was commissioned by Coggeshall Parish Council to support the production of the Regulation 14 Consultation Draft Neighbourhood Plan. DAC Planning has provided support and guidance to the Steering Group through a range of complex issues in order to inform the production of the Draft Neighbourhood Plan. This project included a review of policy matrices and ideas produced by the Steering Group, and drafting of planning policies for incorporation into the Neighbourhood Plan.
Services provided by DAC Planning for Coggeshall Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group include:
- Critical friend assessment of the Draft Plan;
- Housing Strategy Report providing guidance on housing allocations in the Draft Plan and an assessment of potential housing development sites within the parish;
- Consultation Statement;
- Basic Conditions Statement; and
- Draft policies for the Neighbourhood Plan
Project Outcome
The Coggeshall Neighbourhood Plan was passed at referendum in May 2021 with 1,507 votes in favour and 174 votes against. This represents the third Neighbourhood Plan to pass at referendum in Braintree District Council with the support of DAC Planning.
Cressing Neighbourhood Plan, Essex
Scope of Project
DAC Planning supported the production of the Cressing Parish Neighbourhood Plan from 2017 to 2019. Initially, DAC Planning produced a Baseline Scoping Report which brought together existing sources of evidence, information and consultation findings, together with a project plan, in order to inform the production of the Draft Neighbourhood Plan.
Subsequently, DAC Planning produced a Housing Strategy Report and an Open Countryside Buffer Report for the Draft Neighbourhood Plan’s evidence base. DAC Planning then worked with the Steering Group to produce the Basic Conditions Statement, Consultation Statement and the Draft Neighbourhood Plan. DAC Planning advised the Group on best practice and procedure throughout all stages of plan preparation.
Project Outcome
The draft Neighbourhood Plan was submitted for examination and ‘made’ in February 2020, becoming the second made Neighbourhood Plan in Braintree District.
“David Coleman and his colleague have had extensive experience of local government planning and this is evident in the quality of the work that he has produced for us since becoming involved in our project towards the end of 2016. "
"We have no hesitation in recommending the services of DAC Planning to any group which is attempting the task of putting together a Neighbourhood Plan.”
Bradwell with Pattiswick Parish Neighbourhood Plan
Scope of Project
DAC Planning supported the production of the Bradwell with Pattiswick Neighbourhood Plan from 2018 to 2019. Initially, DAC Planning assessed the existing evidence base and consultation findings. DAC Planning worked with the Steering Group to develop and produce a Draft Neighbourhood Plan.
Guidance was provided during the process and DAC Planning produced the Basic Conditions Statement. DAC Planning worked closely alongside Bradwell with Pattiswick Parish Council in the production of the Draft Neighbourhood Plan for Regulation 14 and post Regulation 14 amendments.
Project Outcome
DAC Planning worked within a tight timescale to produce a successful Neighbourhood Plan. The Bradwell with Pattiswick Neighbourhood Plan was made in July 2019, becoming the first made Neighbourhood Plan in Braintree District Council.
The Steering Group reflected on the support we provided:
“Bradwell with Pattiswick Parish Council engaged David Coleman (DAC Planning) to support the development of their Neighbourhood Plan.
Our requirements were clear, we needed help in drafting the Regulation 14 document, particularly the translation of the residents' requirements into policies which were consistent with international, national and local planning policies.
David is very knowledgeable, competent and experienced, with his help we achieved our ambitious timescale. We highly recommend David to anyone thinking of embarking on a Neighbourhood Plan.”
