Community and Neighbourhood Planning

The evolution of localism offers a good opportunity for communities to shape their local environment. This page gives updates on some ways in which CPRE Hampshire can help local parish councils and amenity groups lead the agenda.

Three New Guides

As part of our work to support Government's 'supporting communities and Neighbourhoods in planning' project, CPRE has developed three publications which aim to guide communities through the new planning process.

Planning explained (PDF: 4.8Mb) - a 72-page guide which provides a general overview of the new planning system, local plans, neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood planning
How to shape where you live: a guide to neighbourhood planning (PDF: 5.5Mb, 64 pages) - an 8-step guide covering simple steps to take if you want to prepare a neighbourhood plan
How to respond to planning applications (PDF: 4.0Mb) - a 64-page guide that takes you through 8 essential steps that will help you make your case for or against planning applications.

You can download these publications using the links above (or clicking on the images). Alternatively you can order copies through Becky French at the county office.

Parish Seminars

Each year we run seminars to help Parish Councils with their current work and to share the latest CPRE developments and resources. It's a great membership benefit, as we offer one free place to each member Parish Coucil and we try to make the seminar relevant to your current concerns.

Topics in recent seminars have included neighbourhood planning, landscape character assessments and community led schemes for affordable housing. In February and March 2012 we held two special events on localism - see details

Localism - CPRE's Role?

We see localism as a unique opportunity for CPRE to play a pivotal role in community led planning. Our Landscape Character Assessment looks likely to provide the structure for the protection of the Hampshire countryside, so we are in a unique position to support Parish Councils where possible. We hope our group structure will provide local support with local issues, and we hope to offer you guidance on the Localism Bill as it's announced. Our PC seminar will focus on Localism and we hope to be working with local groups to support your activities. Membership contributions enable us to offer this support, it adds weight to our voice and strengthens our efforts on behalf of the Hampshire countryside- Please spread the word!

If you need any help in your parish, or would like advice on a specific issue, please do get in touch. We have many 'eyes and ears' looking out for developments across the County, but we need you to inform us of developments in good time, so that we can assess the development and make a reasonable response.

Landscape Character Assessments

Is your area facing a threat to its landscape - a major development or a poorly sited wind turbine, perhaps? With the government's recent decision to devolve power back to local people, Local Landscape Character Assessments (LLCAs) will play a pivotal role in the future planning process in Hampshire. We are encouraging all parishes to complete a LLCA to make sure future development is sympathetic to local desires and needs. A considered, locally informed LLCA will provide a strong basis on which to review planning applications. Our annual parish seminars provide opportunities to share knowledge on developing these assessments. Also, we have a guide called Unlocking the Landscape.

Go to Landscape Character Assessments :: Unlock the Landscape(Guide - PDF)

Resources

There are some resources at the CPRE National Website to help the work in your parish.

CPRE New Homes Bonus consultation paper
Rural Coalition Briefing on the Localism Bill
Get Generating- A renewable energy guide for rural communities
Community Rights of Appeal - Case study examples
Localism Bill - House of Commons Second Reading
Fieldwork magazine - a quarterly magazine with many hints on campaigning

This page last updated 2nd May 2012.