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Planning Advisory Service (PAS)
Open group | Started - July 2012 | Last activity - This week

Number of Neighbourhood Plans

Former Member, modified 11 Years ago.

Number of Neighbourhood Plans

Hello, Is there a maximum number of Neighbourhood Plans a local authority can commit to support at any one time or is it a case of all that come forward have to be progressed? Thanks, Hannah
Former Member, modified 11 Years ago.

Re: Number of Neighbourhood Plans

Hi Hannah. In 2013/14 you can claim for up to twenty designations, with a previous limit of ten designations in the previous financial year, so 30 in total up to April 2014. This doesn't mean you can't support more, you just won't be able to claim grant for them. However, where grant can be claimed, I think there is a broad principle that the Local Authority should be fulfilling its duty to advise and guide those Neighbourhoods, and should be using its grant to invest in that support. Communities themselves now also have access to grant aid and external support to steer them through the process - and they should be actively encouraged to do this to help minimise pressure upon the Local Authority, and to ensure that plans are genuinely 'community-led'.
Former Member, modified 11 Years ago.

Re: Number of Neighbourhood Plans

Sorry - meant to also add in this caveat from the govt. guidance on financial assistance for Neighbourhood Plans 'The first payment of £5,000 will be made following designation of a neighbourhood area recognising the officer time supporting and advising the community in taking forward a neighbourhood plan. For authorities designating several neighbourhood areas, each local planning authority can claim up to a maximum of £100,000 for area designations, in 2013/14. However, you should also bear in mind the overall cap of £5m.' see DCLG letter to Chief Planners 18th December 2012 'Changes to financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2012/13 and 2013/14'