Neighbourhood Planning Resources

Helping town and parish councils create a neighbourhood plan

This webpage provides information to help town and parish councils decide whether they want to create a neighbourhood plan, and if they do, how to go about preparing one.

We've split the information below into the following sections:

Deciding to produce a neighbourhood plan
Getting started
Preparing the plan
Sources of evidence and information
Bringing the plan into force
Delivering and monitoring the plan
Other guidance and useful links
Neighbourhood planning interactive map

Deciding to produce a neighbourhood plan

WBC NP Advice Note 1 - Overview of neighbourhood planning [388KB]
WBC NP Advice Note 2 - Differences between neighbourhood plans and other community plans [26KB]
Locality Guidance - Step by step roadmap guide to creating a neighbourhood plan
Locality Guidance - Neighbourhood Development Orders and other community plans
WBC NP Advice Note 3 - Cost of producing a neighbourhood plan [127KB]

Getting started

WBC NP Advice Note 4 - Establishing a steering group [26KB]
Locality Guidance - Producing a terms of reference for the steering group
WBC NP Advice Note 5 - Designating a Neighbourhood Area [17KB]
Locality Guidance - Funding support available
WBC NP Template 1 - neighbourhood plan project plan [49KB]
Locality Guidance - How to commission consultants to work on a neighbourhood plan
WBC NP Advice Note 6 - Neighbourhood planning procedures [32KB]

Preparing the plan

WBC NP Advice Note 7 - Developing a vision and objectives [37KB]
WBC NP Advice Note 8 - Generating options [13KB]

Sources of evidence and information

Locality Guidance - Achieving well-designed places through neighbourhood planning
WBC NP Advice Note 9 - Sources of evidence and information [518KB]
Historic England - Neighbourhood planning advice
WBC Archaeology - Assistance to neighbourhood planning groups [27KB]
Locality Guidance - How to undertake a Housing Needs Assessment
WBC Advice Note 10: How to assess and allocate sites for development [262KB]
Locality Guidance - How to consider the environment in a neighbourhood plan
Locailty Guidance - How to write a neighbourhood plan in a climate emergency
WBC NP Advice Note 11 - Local Green Space designations [159KB]
Locality Guidance - What transport matters can a neighbourhood plan address?
Locality Guidance - How to consult with the community
RTPI Planning Aid England Guidance - How to work with landowners and developers [403KB]
Locality Guidance - Writing planning policies
RTPI Planning Aid England Guidance - Deconstructed planning policies [501KB]
Locality Guidance - General conformity with strategic local planning policy
WBC NP Advice Note 12: Strategic Environmental Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal & Habitat Regulation Assessment [65KB]
Locality Guidance - Testing the viability of proposals in a neighbourhood plan
WBC NP Advice Note 13 - Weight of emerging plans [104KB]
RTPI Planning Aid England Guidance - Structuring a neighbourhood plan [366KB]

Bringing the plan into force

WBC NP Advice Note 14 - Pre-submission (Regulation 14) consultation [33KB]
WBC NP Advice Note 15 - Statutory consultees [20KB]
WBC NP Advice Note 16 - Writing a consultation statement [20KB]
WBC NP Template 2 - Consultation statement [31KB]
WBC NP Advice Note 17: What are the Basic Conditions and how to write a Basic Conditions statement [446KB]
WBC NP Advice Note 18 - Submission checklist [7KB]
Locality Guidance: How to prepare for, and what to expect, at examination
WBC NP Advice Note 19 - Referendum [33KB]
WBC NP Advice Note 20 - Referendum publicity (campaigning) and expenses [172KB]

Delivering and monitoring the plan

Locality Guidance - How to implement, monitor, and review a made neighbourhood plan

Neighbourhood planning interactive map

To help in the preparation of neighbourhood plans, we have developed a neighbourhood planning interactive map which shows constraints, planning applications, the progress of neighbourhood plans in the district, and designations contained within the Local Plan.