Preparing a Neighbourhood Plan

Once the draft Neighbourhood Plan is complete, it is submitted to the district council who will check that the correct procedures have been followed and that all required documents have been submitted.

The district council will then carry out a public consultation and arrange for an independent examiner to check that the plan meets the ‘basic conditions’. If the neighbourhood plan does meet the ‘basic conditions’, the district council will arrange a local referendum so that everyone who lives in the neighbourhood area can decide whether they support it.

If more than 50% of voters are in favour of the plan, it will come into force and be used when making decisions on planning applications.