We have taken around 3,000 calls this year to our planning advice line, which provides 15 minutes of free planning advice to anyone who calls. If the matter cannot be dealt with within 15 minutes then the case is handed to a volunteer. However, it will only be handed to a volunteer if the case/individual/group is eligible for support (for example we do not assist people where they will make money from assistance, such as by submitting a commercial planning application).
In the past year Planning Aid England (PAE) has worked with over 100 of the neighbourhood planning frontrunners on their neighbourhood plans training and direct hands on volunteer assistance. We have also provided technical advice and training to many more who do not have frontrunner status. This second element of our service is funded by DCLG and focuses specifically on neighbourhood planning.
Working with Urban Forum, we have produced an updated version of The Handy Guide to Planning, a clear guide to how the planning system works, aimed at non-planners. We have also produced the Planning Pack, 16 individual sheets designed to explain various aspects of the system, and to help communities get involved with it and influence what happens.
Over the coming months PAE will be providing intensive support to more than 25 groups to push them forward in the process to help them have a draft plan ready for independent examination. Over the next twelve months we will start seeing a number of neighbourhood plans being put in place and PAE will be actively contributing to groups achieving this milestone.
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