Sandleheath Parish Council is preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for the area designated by the local planning authority, New Forest District Council on the 14th March 2024. The area coincides with the Parish Boundary.
The purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan is to set out a series of planning policies that will be used to determine planning applications in the area in the period to 2042. The Plan will form part of the development plan for the parish, alongside the policies of the adopted New Forest District Council Local Plan Part 2 adopted 2014 and New Forest District Council Local Plan Part 1 (2016 – 2036) adopted 2020. The Local Plan and Core Strategy policies will eventually be replaced by an updated Local Plan, which currently has no proposed adoption date but has undertaken early engagement earlier this year.
Neighbourhood Plans provide local communities with the chance to manage the quality of development of their areas. Once approved at a referendum, the Plan becomes part of the Council’s statutory development plan and will carry significant weight in how planning applications are decided in the neighbourhood area. Plans must therefore contain only land use planning policies that can be used for this purpose. This often means that important issues of interest to the local community cannot be addressed in a Plan if they are not directly related to planning. Although there is scope for the local community to decide on its planning policies, Neighbourhood Plans must meet all relevant basic conditions
Basic Conditions
Fig 1 Basic Conditions of Neighbourhood Planning
Does the plan have regard for national planning policy?
Is the plan in general conformity with strategic planning policy?
Does the plan promote the principles of sustainable development?
Has the process of making the plan met the requirements of environmental law?
Does the plan impact on any listed building of buildings of special interest?
Does the plan impact on a conservation area?
Has the plan met the prescribed conditions?
In addition, the Parish Council will need to demonstrate to an independent examiner that it has successfully engaged with the local community and stakeholders in preparing the Plan. If the examiner is satisfied that it has and considers the Plan meets the above conditions, then the Plan will go to a referendum of the local electorate. If a simple majority (over 50%) of the turnout votes in favour of the Plan, then it becomes adopted as formal planning policy for the area.
Strategic Environmental Assessment & The Habitats Regulations
New Forest District Council is required to issue a screening opinion on the requirement for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in accordance with the Environmental Assessment of Plans & Programmes Regulations 2004 (as amended). The formal screening opinion considers that the neighbourhood plan does require an SEA.
The screening opinion also confirms whether a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is required in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended). The formal screening opinion considers that the submission plan does need to be supported by an HRA.
Next Steps
We are noe undertaking the first formal stage of consultation, when the community and all statutory consultees have the opportunity to comment on the proposals. This is called a Regulation 14 Consultation and will be accompanied by the final version of the Design Code and the draft SEA. Following the completion of this stage, the Steering Group will assess where any amendments are required and prepare a final version of the Plan. A consultation statement will also be published to detail the quality and effectiveness of the consultation to date. This will be submitted to New Forest District Council for a further formal consultation (called a Regulation 16 consultation) and to arrange for its examination by an independent examiner and subsequent referendum, if the examiner and New Forest District Council are satisfied that the draft plan meets the basic conditions.
Indicative Timetable
Scoping and informal engagement – Winter 2024/25 – COMPLETED Drafting and formal engagement on pre-submission Plan (Regulation 14) Summer 2025 Review of Reg 14 and production of Submission version of the Plan Autumn 2025 Submission to NFDC –( Regulation 15 ) Autumn 2025 NFDC Regulation 16 consultation on submission version of Plan – Autumn 2025 Examination – Winter 2025/26 Referendum – Spring 2026.
