Out-Law News 1 min. read

Upper Eden Neighbourhood Plan recommended for referendum


The Draft Upper Eden Neighbourhood Plan has become the first neighbourhood plan in the country to be successfully examined under the Localism Act.

An examiner has recommended that the draft plan, with some changes, should proceed to a referendum to determine whether it should be adopted as a formal planning policy, Eden District Council said in a statement.

The draft plan has been produced by the Upper Eden Community Plan Group, which represents 17 Parish Councils across the Upper Eden area. The plan includes policies on encouraging limited new development to help local people meet their own housing needs, as well as policies on housing on farms, housing for older people and broadband connections.

The Council said that the policies are generally in line with both national and existing Eden District planning policy, but that they aim to provide specific solutions to the issues which the residents of the Upper Eden area feel are particularly important to them.

“We are very proud that Eden is at the forefront of putting localism into action," said the Council's Economy and Planning Portfolio Holder, Malcolm Smith. "I hand it to the parishes of the Upper Eden who have seized the opportunity to produce planning policies that they feel suit their local circumstances. The next stage is the referendum, and I urge everyone in the area to participate.”

“I would like to congratulate Eden District Council and the Upper Eden Community on being the first place in the country to have a neighbourhood plan successfully examined under the Localism Act," said Planning Minister Nick Boles. "This is a significant milestone and represents a momentous achievement for the district of Eden."

The Council said it will publish the examiner's report "as soon as possible" along with a decision report showing the changes made and details of the referendum, which it said is likely to take place in March.

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