Purpose of the Report
1 To update council on progress and seek agreement to appoint an experienced consultant to prepare the final report for review by Durham County Council (DCC) and an external examiner.
Background
- A Neighbourhood Plan (NP) puts in place planning policies to guide future development in a defined area for a period of 15 years. If approved by a local referendum and adopted it forms part of the overall Development Plan (DP) for the area. The DP comprises the NP and the strategic local plan of the Local Planning Authority (LPA), in our case the County Durham Plan (CDP).The NP is a statutory document and its policies must be taken into account in the planning process.
- The Council first discussed a NP in February 2022 in the light of concerns expressed by local residents about the Apollo site development. It was agreed to establish a working group involving Gilesgate Residents Association (GRA) to progress the possibility of preparing a plan.
- A well attended public meeting endorsed the need for a NP. Concerns were expressed that while the CDP was helpful in many respects, it did not adequately deal with several matters affecting the Belmont and Gilesgate area. Particular issues of concern covered affordable housing, university development and HMOs, transport and highways, some inadequate public services particularly health and a range of environmental matters.
- In July 2022 Council agreed, as a relevant body required by government legislation, to submit, without prejudice, an application to have the current Belmont county electoral division designated as a NP area. The application was formally approved on 6 December 2022
- NPWG was extended to include interested local residents. It has met regularly since 2022 with detailed work undertaken on six themes namely: unallocated land for development; retail and leisure; housing; university development; sustainability; features and facilities.
- In addition to regular business meetings, discussions about the NP and themes have been and continue to be held at a number of locations with local organisations. These meetings reaffirm the need for a NP and provide useful suggestions for possible policies.
- NPWG is authoring a document covering the six themes available at https://belmontgilesgate.uk
With funding form Locality, a Housing Needs Assessment was commissioned from AECOM and draft policies stemming from that report are being developed. The Sustainability theme is the subject of a special meeting on 21st November 2024 of the NPWG to which all parish councillors and GRA committee members have been invited, - Since 2022 updates on the work of NPWG have been provided at each meeting of the parish council and feedback welcomed.
The next stage
10. It was envisaged the preparation of a NP would take three to four years. NPWG consider it is now time to progress the professional preparation of the NP for consideration by the external examiner prior to moving towards the referendum.
- So far, preparation of the draft has been undertaken by NPWG members. Realistically, authoring the final document requires a knowledgable planning professional with experience of NPs and the process. NPWG members have many other commitments and do not necessarily have the time or professional background to undertake the work.
- It is envisaged the work could be completed over a six month period beginning in April 2025. NPWG is currently discussing this with DCC and planning consultants with experience of NPs
Finance
13 At the onset it was recognised the costs of preparing a NP could cost up to £10,000 and take four years to complete. Locality, a government agency charged with supporting technical, legal and professional services to organisations preparing plans, has for a number of years received funding from government to support the preparation of these plans.
14.In 2023/24 the parish council was awarded a technical grant to fund the AECOM housing needs assessment. In the same year a small general grant was received to cover the costs of newsletters and room hire.
- From preliminary discussions it is considered the fee for a planning consultant to undertake the work would be in the region of £6000
- Locality receives allocations on an annual basis. As reported to the parish council, NPWG considered an application should not be submitted in the current financial year as more work needed to be done on the themes. In coming to this conclusion it was envisaged preparation of the draft NP would probably take place in 2025.
- In agreeing its priorities for 2024/25 the parish council agreed the NP was a top priority and further agreed an allocation of £4000 should be earmarked in reserves for the NP. The NPWG requests that in considering its priorities for 2025/26 the parish council looks to augment that NP reserve, with a similar amount. There will be additional costs to cover the referendum and as yet government has not confirmed allocations to Locality for 2025/26
18, Were the parish council to agree with the recruitment of a planning professional to author the NP under the guidance of the NPWG, an application would be made to Locality in 2025 should it receive funding from government, In the meantime the costs would be met from the designated reserve.
Recommendations
19 The Parish Council is requested to
a) Reaffirm its commitment to the preparation of a NP
b) Prioritise the final preparation for 2025/26 and augment the NP reserve with an additional amount.
c) Authorise the chair and vice chair in consultation with the chair of Finance and NPWG to progress procurement of a planning consultant to prepare the NP for external review.
d) Agree use of the designated reserve to fund the consultant and that an application is submitted to Locality in 2025.
e) Continue receiving reports from the NPWG
PC/311024