1.1 This document represents the Neighbourhood Plan for Old Windsor parish. It represents one part of the development plan for the parish over the period 2018 to 2033, the other part being the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Local Plan.
1.2 The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), as the local planning authority, designated a Neighbourhood Area for the whole of the Old Windsor parish area in March 2013 to enable Old Windsor Parish Council to prepare the Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan has been prepared by the community through the Old Windsor Neighbourhood Plan (OWNP) Group.
1.3 The map below shows the boundary of the Neighbourhood Plan area, which is contiguous with the boundary of Old Windsor parish.
1.4 The OWNP is being prepared in accordance with the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2015 (as amended). The OWNP Group has prepared the plan to establish a vision for the future of the parish and to set out how that vision will be realised through planning and controlling land use and development change over the plan period 2018 to 2033.
1.5 The purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan is to guide development within the parish and provide guidance to any interested parties wishing to submit planning applications for development within the parish. The process of producing a plan has sought to involve the community as widely as possible and the different topic areas are reflective of matters that are of considerable importance to Old Windsor, its residents, businesses and community groups.
1.6 Each section of the plan covers a different topic. Under each heading there is the justification for the policies presented which provides the necessary understanding of the policy and what it is seeking to achieve. The policies themselves are presented in the blue boxes. It is these policies against which planning applications will be assessed. It is advisable that, in order to understand the full context for any individual policy, it is read in conjunction with the supporting text.
1.7 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states:
“Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to develop a shared vision for their area. Neighbourhood plans can shape, direct and help to deliver sustainable development, by influencing local planning decisions as part of the statutory development plan. Neighbourhood plans should not promote less development than set out in the strategic policies for the area, or undermine those strategic policies.” (NPPF para 29)
“Once a neighbourhood plan has been brought into force, the policies it contains take precedence over existing non-strategic policies in a local plan covering the neighbourhood area, where they are in conflict; unless they are superseded by strategic or non-strategic policies that are adopted subsequently.” (NPPF para 30)
1.8 The relevant RBWM Local Plan was adopted in 2003 and therefore, under the guidance provided by the NPPF, is out of date. There is an emerging Local Plan (at Examination stage) covering the period to 2033 which is a material consideration and has provided much of the strategic context for the neighbourhood plan.
1.9 The preparation of the OWNP has been undertaken based on an extensive programme of engagement with the local community. This has included:
1.10 In addition, the community has been kept informed of progress through regular newsletter updates and via the Parish Council website, http://www.owpc.co.uk/.
