With the headline ” New planning powers continue to be a hit with local communities”, DCLG has announced that Wave 5, a further 108 communities, have joined the 125 front runners using the new neighbourhood planning powers in the Localism Act 2011. This is a link to the map showing where they are. It has to be said that this is quite a wide geographical spread.
I am surprised by the number of takers though I always said that the Government would push this forward as they have invested a lot of political capital in it. I was dubious because there is a need at the end of the process, which itself is not short, for a referendum on the proposals. I have doubted that communities would really get behind development proposals when we have been for so long stuck in the chocolate box approach (read my post on passports and you’ll see what I mean). Perhaps neighbourhood planning will become the place where we rediscover our vision and confidence in a better tomorrow.
I am speaking on Wednesday at the Law Society about the legal aspects of neighbourhood planning. It would be interesting to learn the views of others.
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