1 October 2013
A new £7.5 million fund has been handed to councils around the country to help their communities draw up a Neighbourhood Plan – and self builders have a real opportunity to encourage their local authorities to produce plans that include land earmarked for self build homes.
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Councils will be able to claim up to £100,000 a year to help their communities develop a Neighbourhood Plan, with an additional £25,000 for plans that pass a successful examination. Councils can also claim up to £25,000 in grants to help communities establish the forums that drive forward Neighbourhood Plans in areas with no parish council.
Neighbourhood planning gives people a major say in shaping development in their area and allows them to decide where development should go. It also allows people to plan for the type of houses they want in their area – such as self builds.
Planning Minister Nick Boles (pictured third from left – visiting Eden District Council to discuss their Neighbourhood Plan) said: “There is a genuine neighbourhood planning movement occurring with more than 500 communities already using these powers and many hundreds more taking steps to make use of this important new right.
“We’ve seen a great start but I want to see many more communities making sure they make the most out of neighbourhood planning. This funding will help councils support plans around the country and help turn communities’ aspirations for their area into reality.”
In addition to the funding, 40 Neighbourhood planning champions have been announced who will offer help and advice to communities on how best to get a plan underway swiftly.
Winslow Town and Slaugham Parish are examples of councils who have recently proposed more custom build schemes through Neighbourhood Plans.
A guide to all community rights (including Neighbourhood Planning and Community Right to Build) introduced in the Localism Act has also been published.
