Lambourn Neighbourhood Plan

Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required under UK legislation for all plans which might have a significant effect on the environment. The purpose of SEA is to provide high level protection of the environment and to integrate considerations of the environment into the preparation and adoption of plans with a view to promoting sustainable development. 

Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is a process which looks at the potential impacts of proposals within a plan on what are termed 'Habitats Sites'. In relation to Lambourn Parish, the relevant Habitats Site is the River Lambourn Special Area of Conservation. 

Not all neighbourhood plans, also known as Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs), will require a SEA and HRA to be carried out. To decide whether a SEA and HRA is required, West Berkshire Council undertook a screening in July 2023. The screening confirmed that both a SEA and HRA needed to be prepared. The screening report can be read  here [1MB] and the decision notice here [123KB] .

Lambourn Parish Council were responsible for the preparation of the SEA and HRA, and they appointed consultants AECOM to prepare these two documents on their behalf.

The SEA confirms that the policies in the emerging Lambourn NDP will not have any significant negative effects. The HRA confirms that the policies in the emerging Lambourn NDP will not result in adverse effects on the River Lambourn Special Area of Conservation. 

When the pre-submission (Regulation 14) version of the Lambourn NDP went out for public consultation in September and October 2024, the SEA and HRA were still in preparation. Now that they have been prepared, they must be subject to consultation. 

Lambourn Parish Council are consulting on the SEA and HRA from Friday 9 May until Friday 13 June 2025. You can find out further information about the consultation on Lambourn Parish Council's website which can be accessed online here.

Please note that this consultation is the responsibility of Lambourn Parish Council. Any queries or consultation responses should be directed to Lambourn Parish Council who can be contacted via email lambourn.ndp@gmail.com or by phone on 01488 72400.

Consultation on the draft neighbourhood plan for Lambourn (Regulation 14 pre-submission consultation)

On Friday 6 September 2024, Lambourn Parish Council published the first draft of their NDP for consultation. The consultation (known as the Regulation 14 consultation) ended on Friday 18 October 2024.

You can find further details about the consultation on Lambourn Parish Council's website which can be accessed here. Background information on the NDP is available on the Parish Council's website here.

Please note that this consultation was the responsibility of Lambourn Parish Council and not West Berkshire District Council. Any queries or consultation responses should be directed to: lambourn.ndp@gmail.com.

Neighbourhood Area Designation

A Neighbourhood Area for the Parish of Lambourn was designated on 7 December 2018; you can view the Designation Notice online, here [1MB] . This is the first formal stage in the preparation of a neighbourhood plan.

In order to prepare a neighbourhood plan, town or parish councils must notify West Berkshire Council of their intention to designate a neighbourhood area. You can read the Lambourn Neighbourhood Area application form [419KB] .

Lambourn Parish Council have set up a website containing more information about their forthcoming neighbourhood plan.