MOTION A: NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANS
Proposed by: Cllr Ian Gibson
Seconded by: Cllr Chris Phillips
Mid Sussex District Council notes that:
· The District has almost complete geographical coverage of made Neighbourhood Plans with a further 2 in preparation.
· Neighbourhood Plans make a significant contribution to the provision of new housing through the sites agreed by local communities.
· There is no requirement to review or update a Neighbourhood Plan. However, their policies may become out of date if, for example, they conflict with policies in a Local Plan that is adopted after the Neighbourhood Plan has been made.
· 16 neighbourhood plans covering Towns and Parishes in the District were made before the adoption of the District Plan in March 2018.
This Council agrees that:
· The District is fortunate to have many Councillors and residents who have devoted their time, unpaid, to the preparation of Neighbourhood Plans for their Towns and Parishes.
This Council believes that:
· There is a need for clarity in the status of the policies of the District’s Neighbourhood Plans.
This Council resolves to:
· Prepare, maintain and publish a record of the policies of each made Neighbourhood Plan which are assessed to be out of date due to conflict with policies in the District Plan, Supplementary Planning Documents and revisions to the NPPF.
· Ensure that development proposals are determined in accordance with the development plan (which includes made Neighbourhood Plans) when read as a whole, unless material indications indicate otherwise.
Supporting Information:
1. Timeline for the approval of Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Plans and the District Plan:
1. The Cuckfield Neighbourhood Plan was made on 1 October 2014
2. The Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Neighbourhood Plan was made on 19 March 2015
3. The West Hoathly Neighbourhood Plan was made on 16 April 2015
4. The Ardingly Neighbourhood Plan was made on 19 March 2015
5. The Burgess Hill Neighbourhood Plan was made on 28 January 2016
6. The Crawley Down Neighbourhood Plan was made on 28 January 2016
7. The Lindfield and Lindfield Rural Neighbourhood Plan made adopted on 23 March 2016
8. The Turners Hill Neighbourhood Plan was made on 24 March 2016.
9. The Twineham Neighbourhood Plan was made on 24 March 2016
10. The Ashurst Wood Neighbourhood Plan was made on 30 June 2016.
11. The Bolney Neighbourhood Plan was made on 21 September 2016
12. The Albourne Neighbourhood Plan was made on 22 September 2016
13. The Balcombe Neighbourhood Plan was made on 22 September 2016
14. The East Grinstead Neighbourhood Plan was made on 2 November 2016
15. The Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Plan was made on 15 December 2016
16. The Ansty and Staplefield Neighbourhood Plan was made on 2 February 2017
· The Mid Sussex District Plan 2014 – 2031 was made on March 2018
17. The Slaugham Neighbourhood Plan was made on 25th September 2019
18. The Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan was made on 24 June 2020
19. The draft Horsted Keynes Neighbourhood Plan is currently being examined
20. The draft Copthorne Neighbourhood Plan has recently completed Regulation 14 Consultation
2. Guidance on the revision of Neighbourhood Plans from the NPPG
When will it be necessary to review and update a neighbourhood plan?
A neighbourhood plan must set out the period for which it is to have effect (section 38B(1)(a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004). Neighbourhood plan policies remain in force until the plan policy is replaced.
There is no requirement to review or update a neighbourhood plan. However, policies in a neighbourhood plan may become out of date, for example if they conflict with policies in a local plan covering the neighbourhood area that is adopted after the making of the neighbourhood plan. In such cases, the more recent plan policy takes precedence. In addition, where a policy has been in force for a period of time, other material considerations may be given greater weight in planning decisions as the evidence base for the plan policy becomes less robust. To reduce the likelihood of a neighbourhood plan becoming out of date once a new local plan (or spatial development strategy) is adopted, communities preparing a neighbourhood plan should take account of latest and up-to-date evidence of housing need, as set out in guidance.
Communities in areas where policies in a neighbourhood plan that is in force have become out of date may decide to update their plan, or part of it. The neighbourhood area will already be designated, but the community may wish to consider whether the designated area is still the most suitable area to plan for.
Minutes:
The motion was proposed by Councillor Gibson who noted that Neighbourhood Plans become out of date after 5 years and there is a lack of clarity around what happens when they reach this mark. He recognised the important contribution that Neighbourhood Plans make in identifying local areas for development and acknowledged the many residents and Councillors who have contributed to the 20 made Neighbourhood Plans. The motion was seconded by Councillor Phillips.
The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning proposed an amendment to the Motion, which clarified the work that the Council currently carries out. He agreed to amend the wording of the final paragraph to read that ‘development proposals continue to be determined’. The Cabinet Member confirmed that a new call for sites will shortly begin as part of the District Plan review and so the amended motion sought to place the Neighbourhood Plan reviews in that context so that it can be delivered in a timely fashion. This was seconded by Councillor Bradbury.
Councillor Gibson accepted the amended wording. The Chairman took Members to a vote on the amendment as agreed, which was carried with 48 in favour and 4 abstentions.