Neighbourhood Plan for Welford-on-Avon

The Welford-on-Avon Neighbourhood Development Plan is a step closer to fruition following receipt of the draft plan for formal consultation, the stage of the process prior to Independent Examination of the plan.

Welford-on-Avon Parish Council as the Qualifying Body has prepared the 'Welford-on-Avon Neighbourhood Development Plan' for their Parish with the help of the local community.

The plan sets out a vision for the future of the Parish and planning policies which will be used to determine planning applications locally. In accordance with Regulation 16 of Part 5 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), the Local Planning Authority must publicise the draft plan for a minimum 6 week period inviting representations on the plan.

A copy of the draft plan and all associated documentation can be viewed on the Council website at www.stratford.gov.uk/welfordnp or at Stratford-on-Avon District Council's offices, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, and also at Bidford Community and Stratford-upon-Avon libraries during normal opening hours.

The consultation starts on Thursday 10 September 2015.

Representations on the draft Plan may be made to the Council by 5pm on Friday 23 October 2015.

You are encouraged to submit your representations electronically. This can be done either by using the on-line form on the website at www.stratford.gov.uk/welfordnp or by attaching a form to an email and sending it to planning.policy@stratford-dc.gov.uk if you want to post your response, please send it to FREEPOST RTJX-GHEE-ZUCS, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Consultation Unit, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BR.

Neighbourhood planning is a key component of the Government's Localism Act, introducing a new tier of planning. The Localism Act devolves greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods, giving local people new rights to shape the development of the communities in which they live by taking a more active role in the development of planning policy at a local level.

The Act makes it clear that a Neighbourhood Plan will have to generally conform with the Development Plan produced by the District Council.