Neighbourhood Planning - a primer

A Central Government initiative encourages communities to produce a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NP). Such a document sets out to shape development - including housing - in a parish or town. If approved by a majority of parish residents in a referendum and subsequently by the relevant District Council, a Neighbourhood Plan becomes a statutory document: it has force in law. While an approved Neighbourhood Plan cannot be ignored by a District Council, it must align with, and is subservient to, higher-order Plans such as Lewes District Council's Local Plan.

Note: while a NP can seek to influence the type of housing and its location, it cannot block housing development.

The Barcombe Neighbourhood Plan

Barcombe Parish Council watched with interest as other Councils worked through their NPs, then in 2014 took the first steps towards developing its own. A Steering Group (SG) advised the Parish Council. Its members are listed below, along with Minutes of meetings and current documents.

The Neighbourhood Plan project was discontinued in late 2018. Reasons are given in the section 'Final Papers, Barcombe Neighbourhood Plan' under 'Documents', below.