Statement of Community Involvement 2025 Consultation
5. Neighbourhood planning Comment
Benefits of Neighbourhood planning Comment
5.1. Neighbourhood Planning gives communities the opportunity to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area in addition to the borough-wide Local Plan. As with the Local Plan there are several stages including public consultation and independent evaluation which will need to be met to produce a sound neighbourhood planning document.
5.2. Neighbourhood planning provides a set of additional tools for local people to plan for development to meet their community's needs in accordance with Government policy and general conformity with adopted Development Plans. Once made, the Neighbourhood Plan or Order becomes a legal document. Decisions on new planning applications development must have regard to the Neighbourhood Plan alongside other Development Plan documents and in due course the Local Plan.
5.3. Neighbourhood planning was introduced by the Localism Act 2011 together with regulations and advice and modified by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA).
5.4. The council supports neighbourhood planning and will seek to assist over such matters as shared evidence, policies in the existing development framework and emerging local plan (insofar as these have progressed). The council also has a statutory role in facilitating the initial and later stages in the neighbourhood planning process.
Qualifying Body Comment
5.5. Neighbourhood planning must be led by a "qualifying body" either a town/parish council or a duly formed neighbourhood forum. Currently there are no town/parish councils in Hastings. The council will provide neighbourhood planning support including advising on the process to become a "qualifying body" and sharing Local Plan evidence, where needed and where resources allow. The resourcing of additional work, studies etc will become a matter for the qualifying body.
Neighbourhood Development Orders Comment
5.6. Neighbourhood Development Orders can grant planning permission for certain types of development without the need to submit a planning application to the council.
Community Right to Build Orders Comment
5.7. A Community Right to Build Order is a form of Neighbourhood Development Order. These are created by local community organisations and can grant permission for small scale developments for community benefit on a specific site in a neighbourhood area, for example for the development of affordable housing that cannot be bought under the right to acquire.
Neighbourhood Development Plans Comment
5.8. The Neighbourhood Forum prepare the Plan and carry out consultation prior to submission for evaluation by the council, independent examination and a referendum. On request the council may assist. Following consultation, the draft Plan or Order will be submitted to the council who will check against the legal requirements and if satisfied arrange for the appointment of an Independent Assessor. Subject to the Assessor's conclusions the council will arrange a referendum and the adoption of the Plan or Order where over 50% of voters support the Plan or Order.
