LOCALISM IN LOCALISM IN PROTECTED AREAS: PROTECTED AREAS:

SNAKES OR SNAKES OR LADDERS?LADDERS?

Jeff BishopJeff Bishop

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

So who am I? My secretary googled my name and…

Why am I up here? Invented Village Design Statements – helped lotsHelped develop Parish Plans – helped lotsLots of practical projects, including for the AONBShaping the ‘involvement’ requirements in the 2004 Planning Act Lots of training, practical research and development workMostly in UK, some overseas (VDS Ireland)Now Localism ….Localism ….Localism!And just formed, with others, ‘The Localism Network’

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

I am going to: Skip through the key ‘ingredients’ of the Localism ‘recipe’But focus heavily on Neighbourhood PlansElaborate what is specifically relevant to protected areasOffer my own ‘menu’ for Localism in the Cotswolds AONBSeek your views on some ‘tasters’ for you and others

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Not just the Localism Bill, also Local Growth etc.Lots in there, some not relevant for todaySome key things not mentioned so they stay the same?

- Local Development Frameworks (now Local Plans)- Statements of Community Involvement (but ….)- Village Design Statements- Protected Areas (at least in principle)- Conservation Areas

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

The General Context

Neighbourhood PlansNeighbourhood Development OrdersCommunity Right to BuildNew Homes Bonus/Community Infrastructure Levy(Pre-application engagement)Councillors and ‘predetermination’

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

The key ingredients for you are:

Plan-making

Development Management

Community Right to Build

Neighbourhood Development Order

New Homes BonusCommunity Infr. Levy

Neighbourhood Plan

Local Plan

National Planning Framework

(Regional Policy)

Plan-making

Development Management

Community Right to Build

Neighbourhood Development Order

New Homes BonusCommunity Infr. Levy

Neighbourhood Plan

Local Plan

National Planning Framework

(Regional Policy)

AONB PLAN!

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Neighbourhood Plans 1Remember: Developed from Parish Plans and Village Design Statements

Frankly, this is all uncertain and ambiguousWe were told that “Local people …will be able to specify what kind of development and use of land they want to see in their area”Not true!A Neighbourhood Plan must be “in conformity with” any local planAnything remotely strategic will not be for Neighbourhood Plans to addressExpectations now dashed – I constantly hear things like “we’ve been betrayed”

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Neighbourhood Plans 2They will be full, formal additions to the hierarchy of plansAnd that brings some serious implications with itStandard of research, evidence and argument will be a quantum leap up from Parish PlansA serious challenge to the skills and voluntary time from communitiesExample a few years ago of a quantum leap in demands on communities that almost stopped VDS work deadExamination: light touch, not a civil servant… so are they real plans?

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

But Who, How Many, What If Not?

? ? ? ? ? ?NP

LOCAL PLAN

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Neighbourhood Plan Content

Open Space

PARISH PLAN

Education Housing (Land Use) Community

Statutory Land Use

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Democracy and Engagement On Neighbourhood Plans

A Parish or Town – ie. The Council – the basic building blockCan take parts or combine areasMust be agreed with the planning authorityBut what of those left out? Is that good enough? What if others object?How about requiring a ‘Quality Council’ before starting a Plan?Requirements and standards for engagement?Then the referendum …

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Referendum Area for Neighbourhood Plans

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Resources for Neighbourhood Plans

There are 282 parish/town councils in the AONBGovernment estimates costs to produce Plans as between £17,000 and £250,000Averaging out at £40,000 that could be £11m if all do plansBut government expects perhaps 15 per year for your area – still £600kpaThe contribution of voluntary time to Parish Plans and VDSs has always been considerable, and might continue, but help is needed because…

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Skills for Neighbourhood Plans

... the demands of statutory plans require specialist skills

... the sheer load is enormously more than was the case for Parish PlansPlanners aren’t trained with the community engagement skills – no fault of theirsCommunity support bodies are great at engagement, but don’t have planning skills – again no fault of theirs(But help is at hand...!)

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Localism and Your AONB - Now

You have the Board in place (not all AONBs do)That gives you clout, especially on planning issuesGood Management Plan in placeBased on long, thorough engagementCovers all issues, not just planning protectionPerhaps 20 Parish/Town Plans done, lots more on their wayAround 24 VDSs done, most ‘adopted’, more on their way

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Localism and Your AONB - Future

Could produce its own full, formal, PlanThis would enable you to influence all issuesEngagement to date could be built onThis would make it a genuinely collaborative approachParish Plans and VDSs could still link in (bit of a tweak needed)New Parish and Town level action could be a genuine component

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Localism and Your AONB - Future

LAND USE

OVERALL: SUSTAINABILITY

AONB Plan

Parish / Town ‘Plan’

LAND USE

OVERALL: SUSTAINABILITY

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Your Waiter Recommends This Menu…

Don’t stop Parish Plan/VDS work – but slight shifts neededIf a compelling reason to do NP, NDO, CRB project ... tread carefullyOtherwise, DON’T START ON A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN YET!Continue to lobby, harder than before, for engagement in Core Strategies etc. Continue to lobby for better pre-application engagement

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

In the Meantime Place Your Efforts Into:‘Character and Design Statements’

Two key reasons: Gets more people engaged and organisedResults will have clout even if NPs delayed

And this is a nationally exciting model because it can combine:Village Design Statement (built environment)

approachesLandscape character assessment – enriching the

AONB’s guidelinesConservation Area Character Assessment And move into site selection and project briefs if you need to

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

What Do You Think Of It So Far?

I said I’d be seeking your views so...

Half day Briefings (for all and sundry) on Localism in the AONB?Training sessions on (eg.) Character and Design Statements

Possible support on NPs, NDOs etc.Possible support on finishing current Parish Plans / VDSsPS. Maybe more for others (Localism Network?) than AONB

Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders? Localism in Protected Areas: Snakes or Ladders?

Thanks for your time

(The Localism Network flyer is in your packs)