Neighbourhood planning moving ahead in Aylesbury Vale communities
Archived press release
Date Published: 06/06/12
Building work
Residents will be at the centre of new plans that will shape future development for Buckingham and Great Horwood.
Under The Localism Act, town and parish councils can prepare a neighbourhood plan and formally apply for consent to designate an area to be covered by the plan. Where no town or parish council exists communities can form their own group to create a neighbourhood forum.
Buckingham Town Council and Great Horwood Parish Council have set the ball rolling by being the first communities to formally apply to Aylesbury Vale District Council to designate their own neighbourhood areas. AVDC has started a six week consultation process on the proposals and is inviting comment from those living or working in the affected areas.
Neighbourhood planning is designed to enable local communities to have a real voice in deciding the look and feel of future development in their area, including the location of new development, the design of buildings, the types of shops they want in their high street, and the green spaces that should be protected.
Councillor Carole Paternoster, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “The neighbourhood plans for Buckingham and Great Horwood are now beginning preparation. These will be new planning documents, created by the community, to set out development policies and proposals for their areas.
“The first phase of developing a neighbourhood plan is to define the boundary of the area covered by the plan.Then detailed work can begin on what form the future development will take. AVDC will be there to offer support, but neighbourhood plans put real power in the hands of local people.”
The consultation on the proposed neighbourhood areas runs until 2 July. Plans showing the neighbourhood areas are available to download from AVDC’s website.
For further information please contact the council’s forward plans team by email
valeplan@ayleburyvaledc.gov.uk or by calling 01296 585439. Please ensure all representations are received before the end of the consultation period.
More information about the neighbourhood plan concept is available online at www.communities.gov.uk