What is neighbourhood planning?

Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. They are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and industrial units to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided.

Why is this important to us now?

Great Oxendon Parish Council has agreed that a Neighbourhood Plan lodged with our local authority would best serve the wishes of the local community and provide some protection from undesirable development in our pleasant rural location.

What are the benefits to a community of developing a neighbourhood plan?

Neighbourhood planning enables communities to play a much stronger role in shaping the areas in which they live and work and in supporting new development proposals.

Neighbourhood planning provides the opportunity for communities to set out a positive vision for how they want their community to develop over the next 10, 15, 20 years in ways that meet identified local needs and make sense for local people

What will be needed from you?

We would like to form a small separate advisory group of eager volunteers to help drive the project to success.

Imaginative help will be needed to engage with our local community and tapping into your creative skills and ideas will be so valuable. We have many talented residents who have so much to offer.

The Neighbourhood Plan project will probably run for approximately 18 months and will involve presentations to the community to collect wishes and carry out a final referendum with residents, before the plan is ‘made’ with the local authority.

It is anticipated that we will appoint consultants to assist with the Plan draft and give us advice on key points to include in any submission. A grant is available from Central Government to assist with these costs.

If you feel you would like to help shape the future of our community in any possible way, we would like to hear from you.

To find out more and hopefully offer to help, please contact us at:

clerk@greatoxendonparishcouncil.gov.uk