Tool: Parish Plans as SPD
Parish Plans set out a vision for how the community wants to develop, and identify the action needed to achieve it. They can include any social, environmental or economic issues.
Example of tool in use (1): Parish Plans in Cornwall
Many of the former district councils in Cornwall adopted Parish Plans, or elements of parish plans that were related to planning and in conformity with the adopted Local Plan, as SPD.
Carrick and Caradon district councils worked jointly on a project funded by Planning Aid, using a community planner to work with a parish from each district to have appropriate elements of their Parish Plan adopted as SPD. The aim of the project was to establish a protocol to enable the adoption of further parish plans and to ensure that the wishes of the community taken into account in development management decisions.
The project ran from November 2007 to March 2008. It resulted in the adoption of elements of the St Just in Roseland Parish plan as SPD and this is still used in development management decision making, referred to in reports and at committee.
The Deviock Parish plan was not adopted as the parish plan members were clear that they wanted to use the parish plan to fight the local plan – not be in conformity with it. However Caradon district council had previously adopted five Parish plans as SPG in 2004 and four as SPD in 2005, through the Countryside Agency National Pilot Scheme.
Contributed by Sarah Arden MRTPI, Senior Planning Policy Officer, Strategic Policy Team, Cornwall Council
Example of tool in use (2): Parish Plans/Village Design Statements in Uttlesford
These have been a really valuable tool for the District Council, both in the final outcome (a usable targeted document) and also in the process which produced them. These are really the forerunner of Neighbourhood Plans and involve the community working together to identify what they consider to be important about their area.
As well as producing a plan these exercises can help to pull a community together, identify new leaders and identify projects which the local community can get behind. These are much better ways to involve people in the process than with a consultation on a more removed Core Strategy – it actually means something to people in their daily lives.
Further information
Contributed by Andrew Taylor MRTPI, Divisional Head of Planning and Building Control, Uttlesford District Council
Tool: Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) provide greater details on the policies of development plan documents.
Example of tool in use: Priors Green SPD
This SPD came about because of the allocation of a number of small sites in one area providing for a high level of housing. The Council felt that without the SPD we would not be able to satisfactorily control the developments so that overall they provided a coherent development which provided the level of community infrastructure needed. By adopting this approach we have managed to develop a homogenous community through similar approaches to design and layout, in addition we have secured financial contributions which have enabled local facilities and services to be provided.
Further information
Contributed by Andrew Taylor MRTPI, Divisional Head of Planning and Building Control, Uttlesford District Council
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