East Suffolk Council

Who can prepare a Neighbourhood Plan?

Areas with a Town or Parish Council

Where there is a Parish or Town Council, they are responsible for producing and consulting on a Neighbourhood Plan and for submitting it for independent examination.

Areas without a Town or Parish Council

In areas where no Parish or Town Council exists, a Neighbourhood Forum must be set up before a Neighbourhood Plan can be prepared.

Neighbourhood Forums are community groups including those with business interests in the area. The rules that determine whether a Neighbourhood Forum has been correctly set up are:

• Membership of the Forum must comprise of at least 21 people
• Membership of the Forum must be of people who live, work or are an elected member of the Neighbourhood Area
• The Forum must be established for the purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental well being of the area
• It must have a formal written constitution.

A Neighbourhood Forum application must be submitted to the Council. This application should be made at the same time as applying to designate the Neighbourhood Area.