Neighbourhood planning
The Government committed to encourage communities engaged in neighbourhood planning to complete the process and to assist others to draw up their own plans. Over 2,000 communities have taken the decision to produce a neighbourhood development plan or an order. The Act strengthens neighbourhood planning by ensuring that planning decision-makers take account of well-advanced neighbourhood development plans; requiring parish councils and designated neighbourhood forums to be automatically notified of future planning applications in their area; and, by giving neighbourhood development plans full legal effect at an earlier stage. It introduces a proportionate process for modifying neighbourhood development orders and plans and facilitates the modification of neighbourhood areas where a neighbourhood development order or plan has already been made in relation to that area. The Act also makes the duty on local planning authorities to support neighbourhood planning groups and the neighbourhood planning examination process more transparent.