What is neighbourhood planning?

Neighbourhood planning is a new way for communities to decide the future of the places where they live and work. They give local people a say over where new homes, shops and offices will be built and what they will look like, and the confidence that they will have the proper support to cope with the demands of new development.

Neighbourhood planning provides a genuine opportunity for local people to influence the future of their area.

A Neighbourhood Plan will be subject to examination and referendum and then form part of the Development Plan (a set of documents that set out the local authority's policies and proposals for the development and use of land in the district). This statutory status gives Neighbourhood Plans far more weight than some other Community-Led Plans, such as parish plans, community plans and village design statements.

Ultimately a successful Neighbourhood Plan will help Mid Suffolk District Council decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.

The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group for Elmswell is made up of 14 residents who volunteered to be part of this process. We will keep you informed of our progress via the Village Newsletter, this page and the Neighbourhood Plan website.

For more information on Neighbourhood Plans go to http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/faq/faqs-neighbourhood-planning/