Emerging plans at local and neighbourhood level

Sarah O’Driscoll Service Manager City Planning 22nd April 2014

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Content

• Bristol’s statutory planning context

• How we have been working with our Neighbourhood Forums

• the challenges • the opportunities • Some of the lessons and learning

to date

Bristol – West of England Sub-region

22nd April 2014

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Bristol’s statutory planning context

Development Plan

Neighbourhood Development Plans

Bristol Local Plan

Core Strategy

Site Allocations & Development Management

Policies

Central Area Plan

National Planning Policy Framework

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Introducing Neighbourhood Planning to Bristol….local governance

Bristol• is entirely ‘un-parished

• has ‘Local Neighbourhood Partnerships’ of 2 to 3 wards

• is short on neighbourhood level governance structures

Implications….• Area and Forum designation

process required

• Too large to be ‘neighbourhoods’

• Weak on experience of neighbourhood elected representation

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Introducing Neighbourhood Planning to Bristol….local governance

Bristol• BUT the LPA has a history of

active working with community groups on neighbourhood planning predating Localism Act

Implications….• Ready experience of

community engagement in:– Character appraisals,

landscape appraisals, ecology assessments

– Commenting on Planning applications and emerging DPDs

– SPD preparation with LPA

PAS London

22nd April 20 14

Introducing Neighbourhood Planning to Bristol….Neighbourhood Planning Forums

• Using existing Neighbourhood Planning Network• Identified 3 Front Runner Pilots• Provided training for established conservation area and

planning groups on emerging Act and Regulations• Explored options and alternatives using ‘Choices and

Choosing’• established a cycle of open application for Neighbourhood

planning Area and Neighbourhood Planning Forum designations

PAS London

22nd April 20 14

Introducing Neighbourhood Planning to Bristol….Neighbourhood Planning ForumsProvided guidance on process and requirements

• Information leaflet and process sheet• Guidance on how to apply• LPA prioritisation of support• How to set up a constitution• Standards for working together – MoA• How to retain a consultant – outline

for a brief and contract process

Neighbourhood Planning Areas and Forums

22nd April 2014

Designations5 Neighbourhood Planning Areas and Forums• July 2012 Lockleaze and Redcliffe Way

• May 2013 Lawrence Weston and

Old Market

• July 2013 Knowle West

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Lockleaze

Site allocation proposal map Issues and options map

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Redcliffe Way

BCAP section Redcliffe illustration

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Old Market Quarter

BCAP allocations Old Market Map

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Old Market Quarter

Community vision for Old Market roundabout

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Lawrence Weston

Site allocation Community allocations

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Lawrence Weston

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Knowle West

Site allocation KW Regeneration Framework

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Timetabling…..NPF

NPF designation date

Aims and ObjectivesConsultation

First Draft NDPConsultation

Revised Draft NDPConsultation

Submission independent examination

Examination Referendumanticipated

Consultants appointed

Lockleaze Voice

30.7.12

April 2012 April/May 2014

August 2014 October / November 2014

LDA Oct 2013

Redcliffe Way

30.7.12 February 2013

September 2014

March 2015 July 2015 September 2015

LDA/mufJan 2013

Old Market Quarter

1.5.13 April 2013 October / November 2013

May / June 2014

July / August 2014

October / November 2014*

January 2015

Consultant policy drafting

Lawrence Weston

1.5.13 Set in Community Plan published Spring 2013

April/May 2014

June / July 2014

August 2014 October / November 2014

January 2015

Planning Aid

Knowle West Area

1.7.13 Set in constitution, derived from work on KW Regeneration Framework

January 2015 June 2015 September 2015

October / November 2015*

January* 2016

Due end of April 2014

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Learning:Challenges – why not faster delivery?

• What has held up the process to date:– for Neighbourhood

Forums

– For LPAs

• Understanding the task• Getting community involvement• Identifying the skills required• Accessing finance• Appointing consultants• energy

• Access to resources• Existing DPD priorities• Existing commitments• Managing finances and legislative

processes

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Learning:Challenges – why not faster delivery?

- Joint LPA and Forum issues:

• No urban area is a ‘clean sheet’

• Ensuring common understanding …..

• History of Council projects and promises

• Existing regeneration projects• Aspirations that go beyond the

NPF remit• Significant Council land

ownership – highways, long leases, Housing Revenue Account

• Conflicting approaches to engagement

• ‘project ‘ownership’ and delivery issues

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Learning:Challenges – why not faster delivery?

• Clarity on plan content

• Ensuring community engagement

• What is a land use plan ‘policy’• What is a space ‘management’

issue• What is ‘policy’ vs ‘design guide’• What is an acceptable allocation• What is a deliverable allocation• Does the community really

understand?• Significant changes to the plan

need another consultation….

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Learning:Challenges - how might it work if…

• There is no extant / up to date statutory Plan

• Where the NDP has got ahead of the Local Plan preparation

• Where Statutory Local Plan in place

• Where the local authority is the major land owner

In each case….• What is the added value

that a Neighbourhood Development Plan can offer

• How can the NPF • contribute to the existing

processes• use the process to their

advantage

• What does the local authority need to accept / initiate

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Learning: Opportunities….

• for flexibility of response – no standard way to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan

• for new ways of partnership working with communities

• For greater corporate working with a neighbourhood focus on delivery

• There is – no standard response– no standard approach– no standard solution

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Sustainability Appraisal – what and when

• What– Scoping– Direction – Engagement with statutory

bodies

• When

• Depends on form of Neighbourhood Plan

• Extent of un tested proposals

• Extent of consistency with Local Plan

• Need confirmed content to work with…..

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Basic Conditions – what and when

• What– NPPF compliant– Local Plan strategic policy

general conformity – Statement of consultation

• When

• Early check with LPA on objectives and aspirations

• Contribution to content of Basic Conditions statements from early days

• Active support and engagement with LPA on product…..

• Need confirmed content to work with…..

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Needs

Resources, resources, resources• Funding and finance• Skills base• People• Organisation• Project Management• Enthusiasm• ……. and the right delivery mechanisms

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Conclusions

• Governance structures are an issue

• No urban context is a clean sheet

• It has to be voluntary…!• Flexibility is the key…….• Increasing delivery of

development is the target…..

PAS London

22nd April 2014

Sarah O’Driscoll Service Manager City Planning

sarah.odriscoll@bristol.gov.ukhttp://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/planning-and-building-regulations/neighbourhood-planning-bristol