Diss & District Neighbourhood Plan - Seven Parishes in Partnership

What's it all about?

 

A neighbourhood plan such as the Diss and District Plan puts in place planning policy for a neighbourhood area to guide future development.

 

A neighbourhood plan is about the use and development of land and may contain a  vision, aims, a planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, or allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. 

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                                 Neighbourhood plans cannot STOP development,                             but they can help to SHAPE it. 

 

It may deal with a  wide range of social, economic and environmental issues, such as housing, employment, design, heritage and transport, or it may focus on one or two issues only. 

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If successful at referendum, a neighbourhood plan will become part of the statutory development plan for the area. This statutory status gives neighbourhood plans far more weight than some other local documents, such as parish plans, community plans and village design statements. 

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A neighbourhood plan must meet certain specified 'basic conditions'. These ensure plans contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, have regard to national policy and guidance and are in general conformity with adopted strategic local planning policies. 

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A neighbourhood plan should not promote less development that that identifies in the local plan for the local area (such as new housing allocations). It can allow greater growth levels, providing it meets the basic conditions. It can specify policies and guidance on how new development should be designed, orientated and located.

 

Neighbourhood plans can be a powerful tool in shaping the development of a neighbourhood. The time frame for the neighbourhood plan will e for the communities to decide, whether it is is a 5, 10, 15 or 20 year plan.