Neighbourhood planning
Localism Bill and Neighbourhood Planning
The Parish Council wish to make available further information regarding Neighbourhood Planning.
An initial meeting of the Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group has now taken place with planning officers of the Wellingborough Borough Council to further our understanding of the legislation currently going through Parliament and how this impacts on us all.
Neighbourhood Planning encourages community involvement in creating its vision for Wollaston looking ahead 15 years and to strike a balance between development where local need is identified and maintaining its valued green belt. It is intended to guide development and not necessarily stop it, whilst being compatible with national and local policies. Once adopted, the Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan will protect us from undesirable planning and development.
Currently the Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group is formed of 6 Parish Councillors and whilst the Parish Council will be the lead for this project, full consultation with residents, businesses, schools, churches and all local organizations will take place and additional appointments of individuals with desired specialist knowledge will follow.
The work of the group will be to assess future population growth of Wollaston, providing a framework for both affordable and market priced homes. It will also take into account the provision of sufficient places within the local education system, and consult with businesses as to opportunities that may evolve for commercial development and employment growth and the consequent benefits to the economy of the village.
The Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) will set out policies and plan for all these areas on a very local scale. It will state which important green belt spaces will be protected and identify sites that would be appropriate for new shops or housing, should the need be recognized. The NDP will be able to guide design standards to ensure any new development is of a high quality.
The Government objective is for communities to get more involved in planning for their own areas and the steering group will in due course arrange public meetings and forums and welcome all contributions. Once a plan is established it will be put to a referendum of all residents and subject to 50% of the vote approving, the plan will become adopted.
Further news, as available, will be communicated on this website.
Wollaston Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group