Consultation open on Wheathampstead Neighbourhood Plan
St Albans City and District Council is inviting feedback on an application by Wheathampstead Parish Council to designate the entire Parish as a Neighbourhood Plan Area. Neighbourhood Plans give local people the opportunity to have a greater say on the type and extent of development they want for their community. In effect, they set out what development is considered acceptable in the local area. The Localism Act 2011 gave Parish Councils the power to produce Neighbourhood Plans subject to first obtaining the District Council’s approval on the area to be covered.
At a meeting on Thursday 25 June, Cabinet heard that residents have until 5pm on Sunday 12 July to comment on Wheathampstead Parish Council’s application online.
Cllr Julian Daly, Planning Portfolio Holder and Leader of St Albans City and District Council, said: “The District Council has recently approved Neighbourhood Plan Areas for Redbourn, Colney Health, St Stephen and Sandridge following applications from their Parish Councils. We have now received a similar application from Wheathampstead Parish Council and will be making a decision on the Neighbourbood Plan Area once the consultation has ended.”
Neighbourhood Plans can indicate locations for homes, transport infrastructure, community facilities and businesses. They also provide guidance on planning issues, such as the protection of local heritage. However, Neighbourhood Plans must reflect the District Council’s assessment of the development needs of the wider area, including housing. While
the District Council will allocate areas for housing through its local plan, Neighbourhood Plans can identify suitable locations for additional housing provided there is support locally.
The District Council as the local planning authority retains the power to make decisions on individual planning applications. However, in coming to these planning decisions it must take Neighbourhood Plans into account, where adopted, as they form part of the local Development Plan.
The Cabinet meeting on Thursday 25 June was webcast and can be watched on the Council’s website (Please contact Democratic Services if you would like to watch this webcast, DemocraticServices@stalbans.gov.uk). The papers for the meeting are available online.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Julian Daly, Leader of St Albans City and District Council
Mob: 07775 657200
Contacts for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson,
Media and Internal Communications Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Julia Warren, Clerk to Wheathampstead Parish Council
Email: info@wheathampstead-pc.gov.uk
Tel: 01582 832541
Notes:
1. More information about Neighbourhood Plans is available on the Department for Communities and Local Government’s website.
2. A Development Plan includes national planning policy (National Planning Policy Framework), the local plan and where adopted Neighbourhood
Plans.
3. More information about Wheathampstead Parish Council and the development of its Neighbourhood Plan is available online.