Neighbourhood Plan for Shipston-on-Stour

Shipston-on-Stour's Neighbourhood Plan is a step closer to being put together after Stratford-on-Avon District Council received an application for the designation of a neighbourhood area; the first stage in the process.

Shipston-on-StourTown Council has submitted an application for the parish of Shipston. Members of the public are being asked to make their comments before Stratford-on-Avon District Council makes a decision on the application.

If the designation of a Neighbourhood Area is agreed; local people can put together a Neighbourhood Plan, setting out how they would like the area to develop in the future.  Under the Localism Act, residents, businesses and parish and town councillors are all encouraged to get involved in creating the plan.

A copy of the application and a map can be viewed on the District Council's website at www.stratford.gov.uk/nplan or at the District Council offices in Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon during office hours or at Stratford-upon-Avon and Shipston libraries.

The deadline for the consultation is 5pm on Friday 22 February 2013 and comments can be made either online, by emailing planning.policy@stratford-dc.gov.uk or by writing to Planning Policy, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HX.

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.