FAQ`s

A new planning system has been introduced through the Government’s Localism Act, which devolves greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods.  A key element of this includes Neighbourhood Planning and the opportunity for local communities to draw up ideas for development at the local level, in the form of Neighbourhood Plans. that (when adopted) will form part of the Development Plan for Torbay. Please note that as from the 15th November 2011, the Bill is now an Act of Parliament. The practical implementation of the Localism Act will be through the appropriate government departments and further Legislation.

Where are we now?

Community Partnerships and Torbay Council agreed that three Neighbourhood Plans would be prepared for Torbay, one each for Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Torbay Council was successful in a bid (2011) to take part in the Neighbourhood Planning Front Runners Scheme, to secure £20,000 in funding from central government to help create a Neighbourhood Plan for Brixham.  Subsequent bids for the Torquay and Paignton Neighbourhood Forums have been successful with the fifth wave of frontrunners announced in March 2012.
The Paignton Community Partnerships and Ward Councillors agreed to join in producing an interim Neighbourhood Forum for Paignton. Our Neighbourhood Plan will form a significant part of the basis for deciding planning applications in our area, specifically covering Paignton town and the related communities in the surrounding areas. When completed, it will form part of the overall development plan alongside the Torbay Local Plan.
The Neighbourhood Plan Forum (NPF) inaugral meeting was held on 13 October 2011 which elected David Watts as Chairman, and Dean Auton as Vice Chair. The minutes of the inaugural and subsequent meetings of the Paignton Neighbourhood Plan Forum and are in the Related Downloads Section.

Who is currently on the Paignton Neighbourhood Forum?

The Paignton Neighbourhood Forum includes representatives from the following:
  • Blatchcombe Community Partnership
  • Clifton with Maidenway Community Partnership
  • Goodrington with Roselands and Hookhills Community Partnership
  • Paignton Town Community Partnership
  • Preston Community Partnership
  • Blatchcombe Ward
  • Goodrington with Roselands Ward
  • Roundham with Hyde Ward
  • Preston Ward
  • Clifton with Maidenway Ward

What area is covered by the Paignton Neighbourhood Plan?

The Paignton Neighbourhood Plan area is shown here.

Paignton Neighbourhood Plan Area

How do I join the Forum or find out more?

If you would like to be involved in the Paignton Neighbourhood Plan and have your views heard, please email  info@paigntonneighbourhoodplan.org.uk
To become a member of the Forum on-line:  see How to Join

Neighbourhood Plans – Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a Neighbourhood Plan?.
  2. What does a Neighbourhood Plan do?
  3. Can we stop development from happening in our area?
  4. Will Neighbourhood Plans allocate land?
  5. What is the timeframe?
  6. Is the Council still progressing a Core Strategy or just Neighbourhood Plans?
  7. If we have a Neighbourhood Plan does this mean that we don’t have to use the Local Plan or Core Strategy?
  8. Which carries more planning weight – a Neighbourhood Plan or the Torbay Local Plan?
  9. I’m a developer – do I have to use Neighbourhood Plans when putting in planning applications?
  10. How does a Neighbourhood Plan get adopted as planning policy
  11. How much will it cost and why has my area not received funding from central government?

1.What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

A Neighbourhood Plan is a new type of plan which will focus on very local areas, to be produced by communities with Parish and Town Councils, with the assistance of the Council. Policies included in neighbourhood plans will need to be related to the use of land in the area, or to spatial matters (i.e. aspects that affect how a place works). When adopted, they will form part of the overall development plan for Torbay and be used to consider all planning applications in that area, in the context of the Torbay Core Strategy.

2. What does a Neighbourhood Plan do?

A Neighbourhood Plan gives local people a chance to create a planning document that guides and shapes development in their local area, and to influence what facilities are provided in the area as a result.

3. Can we stop development from happening in our area?

No – a Neighbourhood Plan can guide development to be more appropriate to local context and help decide where it goes, but the government has made it clear that it is not a tool to be used to stop development.

 4.Will Neighbourhood Plans allocate land?

This will depend on how the community want to progress their plan but the plan is able to allocate land if required.

 5.What is the timeframe?

It is expected that Neighbourhood Plans will take approximately 2 years from start to finish.

6. Is the Council still progressing a Core Strategy or just Neighbourhood Plans?

The Council is still progressing with the Core Strategy which will span the whole of Torbay and contain overarching Strategic Policies and Development Management Polices. Neighbourhood plans are able to develop in tandem with the Core Strategy.

7. If we have a Neighbourhood Plan does this mean that we don’t have to use the Local Plan or Core Strategy?

No – the local Plan remains part of the development plan and will continue to be used to determine planning applications until superseded by the Core Strategy. Neighbourhood Plans will form a new tier of planning at a very local level.  They need to conform to the overarching adopted Core Strategy for Torbay but will form part of the development plan for their area.

8. Which carries more planning weight – a Neighbourhood Plan or the Torbay Local Plan?

The weight (importance) that is attached to a particular policy can only be decided when considering a specific proposal. At a general level, when adopted, Neighbourhood Plans and the Local Plan or Adopted Core Strategy should complement each other. Planning decisions will be based primarily around policies in adopted Neighbourhood Plans and the Local Plan/Core Strategy.

9. I’m a developer – do I have to use Neighbourhood Plans when putting in planning applications?

Yes – planning applications will need to have regard to all relevant policy

10. How does a Neighbourhood Plan get adopted as planning policy?

To get adopted, current guidance suggests that the plan will be subject to approval by the Council, then an independent examination, and be subject to a local referendum gaining a 50 per cent level of support. Further details on this will be made available at the time.

11. How much will it cost and why has my area not received funding from central government?

The government has a rolling programme of funding for key neighbourhood initiatives. The Council made a successful bid for £20,000 of funding in partnership with Brixham Town Council (which was the most progressed at that time) in 2010/11.The Council submitted subsequent bids for the Torquay and Paignton Neighbourhood Forums and has been successful the fifth wave frontrunners opens in a new window announced in March 2012.  However, the cost of delivering Neighbourhood Plans is likely to exceed the funding from Government and Neighbourhood Forums may wish to establish other funding initiatives in partnership with the Council, the Private sector and other agencies.

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