The Localism Act 2011 provides communities with an opportunity to
create a Neighbourhood Development Plan for their area.
A Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) establishes planning policies
for the development and use of land in the defined neighbourhood area.
This use of land may be for housing, shops, businesses or sport, recreation
or other community facilities. The plan can also contain policies dealing
with other matters important to residents such as health and educational
provision, the environment, trees, roads and drainage and other infrastructure
concerns.
The plan can be detailed or general, depending on what local people want. It can cover, for example, things like:
In summary a Neighbourhood Development Plan allows local people to
get the right type of development for their community. However the legislation
is clear - it cannot be used to try to stop development.
A Neighbourhood Development Plan must follow the guidance in the National
Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and be in “general conformity”
with the latest Local Plan and planning policies adopted by the Local
Planning Authority.
In Bookham’s case the Local Plans covering our area are the Mole
Valley Local Plan (2000) and the Core Strategy (2009). Our Neighbourhood
Development Plan cannot be in conflict with these plans but can be more
specific and take account of the particular needs of our community.
The plan cannot simply be a wish list - any requirements we want to
include in the plan need to be justified. The Plan covers the
period from 2015 to 2026.
This NDP for our village has been prepared in consultation with residents and will be agreed or otherwise by the community at large, by means of a referendum. If the community approves the plan at the referendum, MVDC is obliged to use the policies in our plan in deciding on future planning applications that are made in our area. When considering such applications all relevant policies will be applied.