Keyworth Parish Council

Continued from the homepage...

Keyworth's Neighbourhood Plan

What is Neighbourhood Planning?

• Neighbourhood planning is a new right for communities introduced through the Localism Act 2011.
• For the first time, local people will have a major statutory say in helping to shape development in the areas in which they live.
• Much more information can be found on the Communities & Local Government website.

What's the background to Keyworth's Neighbourhood Plan?

• The Keyworth Parish Profile sets out what residents told Rushcliffe Borough Council about Keyworth in consultations.
• The Core Strategy in Rushcliffe Borough Council's Local Development Framework sets out the vision and strategy for growth and development in Rushcliffe up to 2026. It covers the broad locations of development and includes strategic policies for housing, business, retail and transport.
• The Core Strategy proposes that at least 450 new homes should be built around Keyworth by 2026.
• This would, in all probability, mean development on some part of the green belt.
• The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) for Rushcliffe is an assessment of a number of sites to consider whether they could be suitable for housing development.
• Nine sites have been identified in or around Keyworth, and some of these sites are likely to be the ones where the new homes will be built; click here for map.
• Under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, which came into force in April, it became necessary for the Parish Council to apply to the Borough Council for formal designation of the neighbourhood area in which possible sites for development could be identified. A Borough Council consultation folllowed during the period 18th July to 29th August.
• It was resolved at a Borough Council Meeting on 4th December, in accordance with section 61G of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, to approve the application to designate the Parish of Keyworth as a Neighbourhood Area.

Why does Keyworth need a Neighbourhood Plan?

• Rejecting the proposals for new homes is not an option, but a Neighbourhood Plan will enable the community to have a say on where new homes, shops and businesses should be built, and what the new buildings should look like.
• It should be borne in mind, however, that, if the Neighbourhood Plan is rejected by the community, there will be no opportunity to put forward an alternative plan, and the proposed housing growth would go ahead without regard for the community's views.
• Accordingly, we need to get it right first time, and we need residents to let us know what they think sooner rather than later.

(Consultation Event at 2011 Keyworth Show)

What's happened so far?

• The Parish Council has set up a steering group, chaired by Cllr Linda Abbey, also chairman of the Council's Planning committee, to manage the process of assessing possible sites for the new homes, and consulting the community at large.
• Other members of the steering group are: Cllrs Keith Barton, Peter Harding, Liz Chmara (Council vice-chairman) and Tony Grice (Council chairman); also, Borough/County Cllr John Cottee.
• The steering group has been receiving help and advice from an independent planning consultant, planners from Planning Aid, the Rural Communities Action Network, and a Notts County Council Consultation officer.

(Cllr Abbey addresses Parish Meeting 2012)

• The recommendations of the steering group will ultimately require approval by Full Council.
• No decisions, or indeed recommendations, will be made until after the consultation process is concluded, and, when the Neighbourhood Plan is complete, residents will be able to vote on it in a local referendum.
• For reasons outlined above, however, it was important that residents didn't leave it until the referendum to make their views known, hence the need for consultation beforehand.

What consultation has taken place?

• Visioning workshops (for Parish and Borough Councillors, local businesses and other groups) organised by the Borough Council in June and July 2011.
• Community consultation event at the 2011 Keyworth Show.
• Workshops for pupils at village schools.
• Items in Parish Council newsletter (Keyworth News).
• Residents invited (flyers distributed with Keyworth News) to participate in a consultation exercise at the Annual Parish meeting on 30th April 2012 - some fifty residents attended, along with Parish, Borough and County Councillors.
• Talks with school governors re likely impact of proposed housing on schools.
• Consultation with U3A, May 2012.

(Display at 2012 Keyworth Show)

• Consultation at BGS, 11th July 2012.
• Council also looking to consult staff from village schools, health service, Police, local small businesses, youth providers, young parents.
• Touch screen kiosk in the Village Hall on the day of the 2012 Keyworth Show, and then at Keyworth Health Centre until 31st August.
• Display at 2012 Keyworth Show.

(Touch-screen Kiosk at Health Centre)

• Questionnaire for residents available on website and from Council office from 30th April until 31st August 2012.

• Map also on display at the Council office; comments forms available on website and at office from 27th May until 31st August 2012.
• Town planning graduate engaged to collate and analyse feedback; results presented to steering group 30th January.
• Watch this space for more details in due course...