Sources of advice and support on Neighbourhood Planning

The government has set up a useful web site on neighbourhood planning and on community rights to

build small-scale, site-specific projects without going through the normal planning application process
challenge to take over a council service they think they can run differently or better
bid to buy and take over the running of local assets that are important to them

Community groups and individuals may get free expert advice and guidance on all aspects of engaging with the planning system in England from four organisations that have been funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Outlines of the advisory services and support on planning which each of the four bodies offer and contact details, are set out below.

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment

Planning "Reset" Scenario

A 1-2 day public engagement focused on scenarios where planning proposals are in dispute because of a failure of developers and/or a Council to engage the community.

Community Planning Workshop Scenario

A 2 day workshop on capacity building amongst community representatives. The Foundation aims to help identify and write up recommendations for community led change at village or town neighbourhood level, and identify potential funding for implementation.

The Enquiry by Design (EbD) stakeholder engagement process

The EbD attempts to 'promote rapid, joined up decision making on large scale planning issues (such as a large housing/neighbourhood proposals) by bringing together the local authority, developer, landholder, community representatives and technical consultants at the outset of the design process.'?The stages of an EbD include: gathering local opinion and scoping the site constraints and opportunities; consideration of specific technical issues that needed to be tested; and the drawing up of development proposals are to reflect community aspirations and developer expectations.

Learn more about the different types of workshop at www.princes-foundation.org/our-work/supporting-communities-and-neighbourhoods-planning

Locality : Building Community

The 'Building Community' project has been designed to support 'local communities to take a more active role in place-shaping and the development of planning policies at a local level to ensure they reflect local needs and aspirations.' Building Community is led by Locality in partnership with Glass-House Community Led Design, The Eden Project, communityplanning.net and a wider group of experts and practitioners.

Locality is able to provide a range of free practical support, through: Online resources on planning, design and enterprise and how to use them to get the most for your neighbourhood;

Free, practical events providing an introduction to Building Community and neighbourhood planning which are open to everyone;
Scheduled training workshops and study tours for community groups and organisations;
Tailored advice and practical support for community groups and organisations actively involved in moving a project forward;
A Creative Planning Camp for community 'mobilisers' and design and planning professionals.

Applications to receive free tailored support can be made online. Take a look at the 'who we help section' to see if you are eligible for tailored support. More information, and the online form can be accessed via the website at www.buildingcommunity.org.uk

Campaign to Protect Rural England

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), in partnership with the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), are helping to deliver advice and guidance on planning through the 'Supporting Communities and Neighbourhoods in Planning' project. The services include:

Advice and Guidance

Events and Training

Planning Champions

For more information on the above areas see www.planninghelp.org.uk

The Royal Town Planning Institute: Planning Aid

Planning Aid offers two main advisory services:

A national Planning Advice Line on 0330 123 9244 where all callers can receive 15 minutes of free, independent and professional advice. In addition, some callers may be eligible for further assistance from a professional volunteer. Alternatively email your enquiry to advice@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk.
A neighbourhood planning service is available to support people and communities in gaining knowledge about the planning system and how they can be involved. A team of community planning outreach co-ordinators have been recruited to work within target communities to build their own plans for the neighbourhood they live in. Communities from the following East of England towns and cities will be able to access the neighbourhood planning service:- Luton, Harlow, Southend-on-Sea, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth, Corby, Norwich and Peterborough

Details of the service can be obtained from www.rtpi.org/planningaid or by calling 0207 9299453 or emailing info@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk

Other sources of support and advice

The Design Council CABE

The Design Council CABE has awarded grants of up to £7,000 for neighbourhood projects that seek to improve the design quality of the built environment. 13 organisations have shared £81,000 through the Neighbourhood Projects Small Grants Programme. The bodies to receive the funding include Bath Preservation Trust and Groundwork Merseyside, which will each be handed £7,000 to provide advice and support to community groups to help them improve design quality in neighbourhood projects. http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/assetscommunityvaluestatement?view=Standard u

Also, the Design Council CABE awarded five grants, totalling £35,000, to local design review panels in Staffordshire, London, Wakefield and Hull. Such funding is intended to help the panels explore new ways to involve the community in reviewing the design quality of proposed developments in their areas.

For information about the Design Council CABE's support see www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-work/cabe/

The Royal Town Planning Institute

The Royal Town Planning Institute produced a note entitled 'Existing Tools for Neighbourhood Planning' in May 2011 to show how neighbourhood planning can be undertaken within the planning system that pertained at the time the Localism Bill was being considered in the House of Commons. The note gives examples of how local communities have shaped their areas in advance of the Bill being enacted. To view see www.rtpi.org.uk/item/4591

Planning Advisory Service

The Planning Advisory Service helps councillors and local authority officers understand and respond to planning reform. PAS offers consultancy and peer support, learning events and online resources on a variety of subjects including neighbourhood planning. A useful source of experience on neighbourhood planning is a community platform supporting professional social networks across the public sector. It provides a secure environment for knowledge development and sharing through online communities of practice. See http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/comm/landing-home.do?id=9276281

Department for Communities & Local Government

On 13 October 2011 the Department for Communities & Local Government published an easy to understand guide to Neighbourhood Planning compiled to make it easier for communities to use the new powers. The guide can be downloaded from www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/introductionneighbourplanning and an e-flyer for communities to promote neighbourhood planning from www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/neighbourhoodplanningeflyer

Royal Institute of British Architects

RIBA has published two new guides for architects, outlining how the role of the architect can change under the new approach to planning and highlighting the crucial role that they have to play in helping communities to understand the potential of their local built environment and prepare neighbourhood plans. See http://www.architecture.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/News/2011/
RIBAurgesarchitectstoembracelocalism.aspx

10-minute summary by Kelvin MacDonald

Kelvin MacDonald, who was the RTPI's Chief Policy Advisor on the Localism Bill, talks about the new Localism Act in a new podcast on http://www.rtpi.org.uk/item/4918/23/5/3

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