Cheshire West & Cheshire introduce their Neighbourhood Planning Activity, as presented at a Planning Advisory Service (PAS) event.

1. Neighbourhood Planning
Emerging plans at local and
neighbourhood level
Louise Hilder
Principal Planning Officer
Spatial Planning

2. Overview
1. Introduction to Cheshire West and Chester
2. Neighbourhood planning in the borough
3. Case Study – Tattenhall & District NDP
4. The challenges
5. The learning

4. Cheshire West and Chester
• New authority April 2009
• Fourth largest authority in North West
• 329,000 residents
• Historic City of Chester
• Towns of Ellesmere Port; Northwich and
Winsford
• Large rural area and key service centres
• North Cheshire Green Belt

5. Planning Context
• No up to date Local Plan - 3 adopted Local
Plans from former districts
• Preparation of new Local Plan for borough
began 2009
• Two part Local Plan in development:
– Local Plan (Part One) Strategic Policies
– Local Plan (Part Two) Land Allocations and Detailed
Policies
• Lack of five year housing land supply

6. Local Plan (Part One) Strategic Policies
•Strategic development requirements
•New housing, employment and retail
requirements
•Area based with supporting economic, social and
environmental policies
•Submitted for Examination December 2013
•Pre Inquiry meeting held
•Examination hearings June/July 2014

7. Neighbourhood Planning

9. Support offered
• Dedicated web site and toolkit for self service
• Nominated planning staff
• Provided training – with partners – Planning
Aid
• Monthly newsletter

10. Case Study - Tattenhall

11. Tattenhall

12. Tattenhall & District NDP
• 8 miles south east of Chester
• Tattenhall Key Rural Service
Centre
• 2000 population
• 3 parishes
• History of community planning
• Developer pressure

13. • April 2011 Announced as Front Runner
• May 2011 Steering Group established
• May – June 2012 Vision and Objectives Consultation
• Nov – Dec 2012 Draft Plan consultation
• Jan 2013 Area Application Approved
• June – July 2013 Publicity Stage Consultation
• Aug 2013 Hearing
• Oct 2013 Referendum
• Nov 2013 Judicial Review application made
• December 2013 Judicial Review allowed
• March 2014 High Court case heard

14. Content
• Positive growth for the future of the area
• Change for the benefit of the
community
• Six policies:
– Housing growth - Local character
– Local economy - Local facilities
– Landscape and environment
– Transport and communications

15. The legal challenge
1. Failure to meet SEA Directive
2. Failure to meet the basic conditions
3. Apparent bias of the Examiner
4. Lack of evidence to support Policy 1:
Housing
5. Late introduction of heritage designation
following Examination (withdrawn)

16. The outcome and implications

17. To plan or not to plan?
YES
• 3 years of working together
• 5000 community volunteer hours
• Developing planning skills in the
community
• Community building and engagement

18. Challenges for the LPA
• No firm guidance or examples to follow
• Advising not dictating
• Managing expectations
• Interaction with development management
• Staffing the support required
• Setting up new internal procedures
• Funding
• SEA and HRA requirements

19. The learning
• Ensure good record keeping
• Need to have confidence in the evidence
supporting the plan
• Be prepared to be honest and have difficult
conversations – better in the long run
• Neighbourhood Plan process not
necessarily light touch – just different

20. The learning (2)
• Ultimate responsibility lies with LPA
• Believe in Neighbourhood Planning and
the power it provides to communities
• It is a powerful engagement tool
between LPAs and neighbourhoods
with long lasting benefits

21. Contact Details
Email
neighbourhoodplanning@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Telephone
01244 973887
Web
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planni
ng_and_building_control/neighbourhood_planning.aspx