Help for communities to plan for their own future

A local council is supporting villagers to put the future of their communities in their own hands.

South Cambridgeshire District Council has published a pack detailing how they will help parish councils to tackle a Neighbourhood Plan – a local planning document to help shape the future of a village.

Neighbourhood plans are unique to each community, but could include issues such as housing, local shops, community facilities, health care or sports provision.

The Council has launched a six-week consultation today (Monday 18 September) so parish councils can make sure the support is right for them and information is as easy to understand as possible.

The draft pack to help communities follows a councillor-led taskforce assessing the issue and recommending the type of help the Council will offer parish councils.

The recommendations were presented to the Council’s Cabinet last week.

Cllr Robert Turner, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for planning, said “Neighbourhood planning is all about giving local communities more say about the future of their village. We recognise that preparing a neighbourhood plan can seem a bit of a challenge and our new initiative is responding to the questions our parishes have been raising. We want to make sure the process is as straightforward as possible for them and they are supported every step of the way.”

Following the consultation, the pack will be finalised and published on the Council’s website.

Local communities do not have to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan, it is a voluntary decision.

 

To view the plans and comment visit www.scambs.gov.uk/npguidance