FAQs
Bratton Parish Council > FAQs

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

A Neighbourhood Plan documents a community-led framework providing guidance for the future development and growth of an area. It may contain a vision, aims, planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, and the allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. All neighbourhood plans must meet a set of ‘basic conditions’. A Neighbourhood Plan relates national planning policy to the use and development of land and associated social, economic and environmental issues. It may deal with a wide range of issues (like housing, employment, heritage and transport) or it may focus on one or two issues that are of particular importance in a local area. A neighbourhood plan will be subject to public consultation, independent examination and local referendum before acceptance.

The Bratton Neighbourhood Development Plan forms part of the Development Plan for the area which Wiltshire Council, as the Local Planning Authority, uses to make decisions on planning applications within the Parish of Bratton.

  • What are the benefits of having a Plan?

Having a ‘Made’ plan provides the Bratton community with more influence over the future development of their Parish. This is due to the fact that the Plan’s Vision, objectives and policies were created and shaped by Bratton’s community.

It increases the understanding of Bratton’s residents and businesses on what are the community’s future needs and aspirations.

It enables 25% of all Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding raised from future developments to be retained by the Parish Council, where as previously the allocation was only 15% . This means that more CIL expenditure is directed to meet Bratton’s needs, so that our community gets the maximum local benefit.

  • What area does the Plan cover?

The Plan encompasses the whole of the Parish of Bratton.

  • Who led on the Plan?

Bratton Parish Council was the ‘qualifying body’ that led the development of The Plan.

A Steering Group was set up in 2018 comprising 3 Parish Councillors and a number of volunteers from the community. The Steering Group elected a Chair and was responsible for the day to day management of the Neighbourhood Development Plan project.

They were supported by the Parish Clerk and the Parish’s retained consultants.

  • How long did it take to produce the Plan?

We began the Plan process with the formation of the Steering Group in 2018. The Plan covers the period up to 2038, the same period that will be covered by the Wiltshire Local Plan Review.  Ideally the Neighbourhood Development Plan will be reviewed every five years.

  • How was the Neighbourhood Development Plan produced?

The Steering Group determined the scope and content of The Plan with the assistance of  retained consultants, in order to meet statutory requirements for Neighbourhood Plans.

The wishes of the community were determined through a series of public consultations throughout the process, with technical appraisals on environmental and planning matters provided by appropriate expert consultancies.

Local assessments and production of the documents comprising Bratton’s Neighbourhood Plan were produced by the Steering Group and other local volunteers.

  • Can the Plan be used to block development?

Neighbourhood planning is about shaping the future development of a local area in a positive manner. It is not a tool to be used to prevent development proposals from taking place. Policies in a neighbourhood plan comply with existing and emerging strategic and national policies.

Neighbourhood plans are not able to promote less development than set out in Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan or through national guidance, but they can be used to promote more development if that is what the community determines.

A neighbourhood plan can be used to ensure that any development is in line with the wishes of the community and is sympathetic to local need.

  • What weight will be given to the Plan in future planning decisions?

Once ‘Made’, the Neighbourhood Plan becomes a statutory planning document that forms part of the Wiltshire Development Plan. The policies within the Neighbourhood Plan will be given significant weight by Wiltshire Council Planners when making decisions on planning applications in the Parish of Bratton.

  • Who paid for the Plan?

Bratton Parish Council funded the preparation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan, with the assistance of government grant aid funding.

Wiltshire Council pays for the public consultation, independent examination and the referendum leading up to the Plan being ‘Made’, and provided technical advice and practical support.