Neighbourhood Plan for Wilmcote Parish

The Wilmcote and Pathlow Neighbourhood Development Plan is a step closer to fruition following receipt of the submission draft plan for formal consultation, the stage of the process prior to Independent Examination of the plan.

Wilmcote Parish Council as the Qualifying Body has prepared the 'Wilmcote and Pathlow 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.

This is the second time the NDP has been through this process. The NDP was withdrawn from Examination last year following the discovery that the Plan had been prepared on the incorrect neighbourhood area boundary. Following the re-submission of a revised area designation application in November 2016, the Plan is adhering to the statutory procedures with a view to returning the Plan to Examination by the end of April this year.

A copy of the draft plan and all associated documentation can be viewed on the Council website at www.stratford.gov.uk/nplan or paper copies can be viewed at Stratford-on-Avon District Council's offices, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, and also at Stratford-upon-Avon library at its temporary location at The Arts House, 14/15 Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6LU during normal opening hours.

The consultation starts on Thursday 2 March 2017.

Representations on the draft Plan may be made to the Council by no later than 5pm on Friday 14 April 2017.

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/wilmcotenp 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 to the Development Plan produced by the District Council.