The vision, objectives and policies are the key elements that make up the Neighbourhood Plan. Policies are grouped under themes and accompanied with a description of the aspirations and challenges each policy is seeking to address. The policies are set out in boxes and followed by a reasoned justification to assist the applicant, decision makers and stakeholders to understand their intent and the evidence that lies behind them. A number of policies reference appendices where further detailed guidance is included. These appendices provide important guidance in support of the policies set out in this Neighbourhood Plan.
Section 1 sets out the background to the Neighbourhood Plan and our neighbourhood, describing what makes Eton and Eton Wick special and the challenges the plan seeks to meet. Section 2 presents our vision and objectives for the neighbourhood from which all of the statutory policies will cascade. Sections 3-6 include the statutory land use planning policies along with their rationale. Section 7 details some of the projects and neighbourhood infrastructure that shall assist in the implementation of the plan. Appendices 1-8 include further evidence and guidance related to the plan's policies.
The Government wants people to have more say in how their communities might be protected and developed in the future. The Localism Act of 2011 empowered Parish and Town Councils together with Neighbourhood Forums to produce a development plan for their area. This Neighbourhood Plan enables the community to utilise planning to shape and steer new development in the local area.
Once made (or adopted), the Neighbourhood Plan will form part of the development plan and will have legal status in determining planning applications. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) will use the Neighbourhood Plan to help determine planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area.
In October 2013, RBWM granted permission for Eton and Eton Wick Town Council to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan covering Eton and Eton Wick. A Steering Group of Town Councillors and local volunteers was formed and the necessary consultations with all members of the local community have taken place to date. This Neighbourhood Plan is the version submitted to RBWM under Regulation 15 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 20121.
1 Accessed at:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/637/regulation/15/made.