Neighbourhood Planning
You can influence the future of your neighbourhood by preparing a neighbourhood plan where you set out the vision for your local area and general planning policies to help guide developments in Redbridge.
Neighbourhood planning, which was introduced in 2011 through the Localism Act and came into force on 6 April 2012 allows local residents and businesses to have their own planning policies in a neighbourhood plan that reflect their priorities, deliver local benefits and can influence planning decisions.
What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
- a document that sets out planning policies for the neighbourhood area. Planning policies are used to decide whether to approve planning applications
- it is written by the local community
- a way to help communities ensure they get the right types of development, in the right place
Neighbourhood Plans can:
- identify a vision for the area and set objectives for the next 5 to 20 years
- provide detailed planning policies setting out where new development should be located and how it should be designed
- allocate sites for different types of development such as housing, retail and office space
- designate areas of community greenspace
- identify key areas for improvement and set out proposals for them
Neighbourhood Plans will be subject to consultation, examination and a referendum. Once adopted they form part of the statutory development plan, alongside the Redbridge Local Plan (2018), and London Plan.
A Neighbourhood Plan must have appropriate regard to national planning policy, and be in general conformity with policies in the Redbridge Local Plan. They must also:
- contribute to the achievement of sustainable development
- be compatible with environmental obligations, as incorporated in UK law
- be compatible with human rights requirements
How do I get started?
The organisation "Locality" has on their ‘Neighbourhood Planning' website information where you can apply directly for support and funding through the "Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme". This includes both "peer to peer" support from other neighbourhood planning groups and information about grant funding for consultants to help with key evidence around technical issues.
Locality is funded as part of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Neighbourhood Planning and Community Right to Build support programme. They are working in partnership with Planning and Environment Consultancy AECOM, RICS, Design Council, RTPI and others and has government funding to support communities with neighbourhood planning.
NeighbourhoodPlanners.London is a London-wide network of Neighbourhood Forums and prospective forums, and offers resources and networking for groups with a specific focus on the particular challenges of neighbourhood planning in London.
Current Neighbourhood Planning Designations
Redbridge has one designated Neighbourhood Area and Forum at present.
Designations last for five years, but a Forum and/or Area may be re-designated upon application.
South Woodford
The South Woodford Neighbourhood Forum and Area was designated by Cabinet at their meeting for 11 February 2020. As an officially designated Forum and Area, South Woodford Neighbourhood Forum can now develop a neighbourhood plan and neighbourhood orders for South Woodford, with local community involvement.
The links below will give you access to a copy of the South Woodford Neighbourhood Forum’s constitution and Area boundary.
The Forum is part of the South Woodford Society, who may be contacted at e18society@gmail.com for further information.
Neighbourhood Forum Constitution (PDF 113KB)
South Woodford Neighbourhood Forum have also produced a vision and a set of aims for their neighbourhood plan.
As part of the preparation for their neighbourhood plan South Woodford Forum commissioned a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Opinion to assess the environmental impact of the Vision and Aims for their neighbourhood plan. The screening opinion concluded that the South Woodford Neighbourhood Plan would not require a full SEA or Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA). Redbridge Council consulted with statutory consultees including the Environment Agency, Historic England and Natural England on the content of the screening opinion and produced an Screening Opinion Report on the responses received. All the statutory consultees agreed that the South Woodford Neighbourhood Plan is not likely to have a significant environmental impact on the area and would not require a full SEA or HRA. The report produced by the council agreed.
You can access copies of the SEA screening opinion and the council's report via the links below:
SEA Screening Opinion (PDF 894KB)
SEA Screening Opinion Report (PDF 4MB)
Additional helpful information
- Neighbourhood Planning Frequently Asked questions (PDF 62KB) to further help explain how the process works and what can be achieved.
- if you have any further questions on neighbourhood planning or are thinking of preparing a neighbourhood plan for your area, please get in touch with us at dpd@redbridge.gov.uk
