Whissendine Neighbourhood Plan – REFERENDUM 29th Feb 2024

Happy new year to all Whissendine residents from Whissendine Neighbourhood Plan Steering group.

Following consultation and comments made with residents the Whissendine Neighbourhood Plan(WNP) was finally submitted to Rutland County Council (RCC). Further communication took place and the Steering group submitted several documents including: a Basic Condition statement, A Consultation statements, supporting documents and included all submissions from statutory agencies and residents.

The Steering group with permission from the Parish council agreed with RCC the Appointment of an External Examiner. We ensured that, not only was the Examiner suitably qualified, but also he had experience of examining rural Neighbourhood plans and in particularly Parishes in Rutland. The examiner that we jointly appointed has examined several other local parishes including a few in Rutland. Over the last few months we have agreed some minor rewording of some of the WNP, but not on the intent or scope of those policies.

In the final report from the External Examiner commented that the WNP had many good and robust policies and finally recommended that the plan go to Referendum.  RCC is required to publish information about the neighbourhood plan and minor changes 28 working days before the date of the referendum. This will not be a consultation phase, it just highlights the small changes.

The referendum on Thursday 29th February 2024 should ask only only question:

 “Do you want Rutland County Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Whissendine to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area”? or something similar.

If more than 50% of residents voting in the referendum vote ‘YES’, then the neighbourhood plan becomes part of the statutory development plan for the area.  

If successful at referendum, a neighbourhood plan comes into force as part of the development plan for the area alongside the local plan. Local planning authorities and planning inspectors considering planning applications or appeals must make their decisions in accordance with the policies of the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. 

In short the Whissendine Neighbourhood Plan will direct Council planners and give legal weight to the numbers and type of houses built in Whissendine over the next 15 years. 

If residents decide not to vote Yes, the Parish is likely to see more speculative planning applications, and will require another plan to be written wasting 2-3 years in which time more applications could come into the village.

Some residents will undoubtedly not be happy with the WNP or will say it does not go far enough that is their choice. As a Steering group we would urge you to vote YES at the referendum on 29 February 2024.

Lastly it is recommended that the Neighbourhood Plans should be reviewed every 5 years, draft minor amendments, but not re-written.

Whissendine Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.

https://whissendine-neighbourhood-plan.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Whissendine-NP-Final-Submission-28-Dec-2023.pdf

Public Consultation Closed on 31st Jan 2023

Updated February 2023.

Whissendine Neighbourhood Development Plan, Regulation-14, Town and Country Planning, England Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulation 2012.

Whissendine Parish Council supported by the Whissendine Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group are undertaking the formal pre-submission consultation of the draft neighbourhood development plan for Whissendine. 

The Public Consultation closed on 12:00hrs Tuesday 31^st January 2023. This is a six-week statutory consultation period and we welcome comments on the draft plan.

Notice June 2022

Please read all the updates of neighbourhood plan progress in the Whissendine Grapevine

end.

Thank you to everyone who completed the Whissendine Community Survey, that closed on Sat 27th November 2021. The evidence results are being compiled and will be used to back up the Neighbourhood plan

Whissendine started the process of producing a Neighbourhood Plan in December 2020. The web pages here will contain updates and news of the progress to date, details of consultations, agendas of forthcoming meetings and minutes. Meetings are open to residents to attend as observers.

Neighbourhood planning gives local communities to influence the planning and development for their local area to decide.

At the end of October or Early November a comprehensive Whissendine community survey based on initial comments will be posted through every door in Whissendine Parish, that we ask is returned to 2 locations at the Shop or the White Lion. There will also be an online survey that you will be able to access via the Whissendine Neighbourhood Plan “Get involved web pages” from 1st Nov 21 and will close at midnight on 27th Nov 21.

• Where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built
• What those new buildings should look like
• What green spaces, important areas and buildings should be protected
• What improvements or additions to facilities are needed
• What infrastructure is required alongside developments
• Guide planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead.

Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to plan for the types of development to meet their community’s needs and where the ambition of the neighbourhood is aligned with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area. Planning and development in Rutland – as in the rest of the UK – is governed by a Local Plan devised by the Local Authority. Working within the parameters of the Local Plan, a Neighbourhood Plan puts in place planning policy for a neighbourhood area to guide future development. With Rutland County Council withdrawing its Local Pan following a vote in early September of full council this brings both opportunities and risk developing a Parish Neighbourhood pan. Please monitor these pages for updates.

The process involves consultation with the residents of Whissendine parish, including other stakeholders, such as businesses, who have direct interest in the area. Following an independent examination, the final Plan will be put to a community referendum. If adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan becomes part of the statutory development plan for the area, and will be used in determining planning applications.

updated 21 Feb 2022