New website to help local people with neighbourhood planning

The Localism Act has introduced exciting new powers for communities in the form of Neighbourhood Planning.

Although communities have always been consulted in the planning process, many people have felt that this engagement is not meaningful giving them only a minor role in shaping where they live and work.

Using new powers communities can now create policies themselves which have real power as planning applications and appeals will be assessed against them. Furthermore, through the introduction of neighbourhood development orders, communities can actually grant planning permission for the types of development they want to see in their area.

This could be on a single site for something such as affordable housing or it could be a blanket planning permission across a wider area allowing changes of use to go ahead in order to bring vacant units back into occupation.

A new wesbsite launched last week gives people access to a set of resources and a forum to support them with their local activities.

Three months back I asksed an open question about whether we in Harringay should think about stirring ourselves to use this new opportunity to shape our neighbourhood. It ain't sexy; it ain't exciting, but I can't help feeling we'll be missing an opportunity.

ourneighbourhoodplanning.org.uk