The Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan

Please click the above link to access the current Wolds Neighbourhood Plan information.

Decision Statement – The Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan

Summary

This Decision Statement confirms that following an independent Examination the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan will proceed to a Neighbourhood Planning Referendum.

The Decision Statement, the Examiner's Report, the Submission Version Neighbourhood Plan and its supporting documents are available to view on the Council's website:
https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/the_wolds_neighbourhood_plan

Background

Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council and Hoton Parish Council applied for both parishes to be designated as a joint Neighbourhood Area, under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations (2012) on the 11th July 2014. The designation was confirmed on the 5th October 2014.

The Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan was submitted to Charnwood Borough Council on the 20th August 2019. Following an assessment against the statutory requirements set out in Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 the plan was publicised by the Borough Council for consultation, ending on the 4th November 2019.

The Borough Council, with the agreement of the Parish Councils, then appointed an independent examiner, Mr Andrew Matheson, to review whether the Neighbourhood Plan met the Basic Conditions required by legislation and should proceed to Referendum. The Examiner published his report on the 28th February 2020 which determined that the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan met the basic conditions against which it was examined, subject to a number of proposed modifications, and recommended that the plan should proceed to referendum.

Decision and Reasons

Charnwood Borough Council, in consultation with Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council and Hoton Parish Council and the Joint Neighbourhood Plan Committee, has considered each of the recommendations made by the Examiner and the reasons for them. All of the modifications to the Plan recommended by the Examiner have been made with an additional amendment to correct grammar in respect
of recommendation 4.2. The modifications and modified Neighbourhood Plan ensure that the Basic Conditions set out in Paragraph 8(2), Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 are met. For clarity, the relevant basic conditions are:

a) Having regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State it is appropriate to make the order (or neighbourhood plan).

d) The making of the order (or neighbourhood plan) contributes to the achievement of sustainable development.

e) The making of the order (or neighbourhood plan) is in general conformity with the strategic policies contained in the development plan for the area of the authority (or any part of that area).

f) The making of the order (or neighbourhood plan) does not breach, and is otherwise compatible with, EU obligations.

g) Prescribed conditions are met in relation to the order (or plan) and prescribed matters have been complied with in connection with the proposal for the order (or neighbourhood plan).

In addition to the basic conditions set out in primary legislation, Regulations 32 and 33 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) sets out further requirements that a neighbourhood plan should not have a significant effect on a European site or a European offshore marine site either alone or in combination with other plans and projects. The Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report and the Habitats Regulation Screening Report (March 2020) confirmed it is unlikely that there will be any significant environmental effects, including on European sites, arising from the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan and that further testing was not required.

Taking the above into account, Charnwood Borough Council considers that the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan, as modified to incorporate the Examiner's recommendations, should proceed to Referendum. It is important to note that following the publication of this statement a referendum would normally be held within 56 days in accordance with the statutory timetable. The Coronavirus Act 2020 gives powers to the Secretary of State to amend the statutory timetable for holding referendums and specify later dates or periods for referendums as long as the amended date, or end date of the period, is prior to the 7th May 2021. At this time the implications for the timetable for holding a referendum on the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan are not known.

Richard Bennett
Head of Planning and Regeneration
2nd April 2020

Important Notice: Charnwood Borough Council has received an amended version of the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan.

The amendment relates to Policy WV1 Landscape Character and Locally Important Views on page 13. To ensure that stakeholders have the opportunity to comment on the amended version of the Plan, the 6 week consultation will be restarted. The consultation will now run from Monday September 23 until Monday November 4, 2019.

The amended Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed below:

• 2018-2028 Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan - Submission (PDF Document, 4.29 Mb)

The supporting documents listed below (B-H) remain the same.

Pre-examination consultation

UPDATED CONSULTATION INFORMATION: The consultation on the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan will restart on Monday 23rd September and will run until Monday 4th November. Should you have any queries regarding the Neighbourhood Plan or its submission then please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01509 634929 or email localplans@charnwood.gov.uk.

Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council and Hoton Parish Council, through the Joint Neighbourhood Plan Committee, has prepared a joint Neighbourhood Plan for their parishes.

In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents have been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council for the purpose of consultation, examination and, if appropriate, a referendum ahead of it being 'made' (adopted) as part of the local plan for the area.

Charnwood Borough Council has considered the Plan against the statutory requirements set out in paragraph 6 of Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and is satisfied that these have been met and it can proceed to consultation.

The Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents submitted are available below:

• A) Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan Covering Letter (PDF Document, 0.41 Mb)
• B) Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan (Submission version) (PDF Document, 4.28 Mb)
• C) Wolds Villages Designated Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF Document, 5.27 Mb)
• D) Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan Basic Conditions Statement (PDF Document, 1.15 Mb)
• E) Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement (PDF Document, 1.15 Mb)
• F) The Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan SEA & HRA Screening Report (PDF Document, 0.58 Mb)
• G) Burton on the Wolds, Cotes & Prestwold Parish Council Annual Meeting Minutes (PDF Document, 0.73 Mb)
• H) Hoton Parish Council Meeting Minutes (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb)

The plan will now be formally consulted upon for a period of 6 weeks from Wednesday 28th August to Wednesday 9th October 2019. Any representations that are made on the Plan will be forwarded to an independent Examiner who will then undertake an examination of the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan.

The Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents are available for inspection at the following locations:

• Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council website
• Leicestershire Communities website
• Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council. Please contact the Parish Clerk on 01509 889770 or email burtonclerk@gmail.com to arrange a viewing
• Charnwood Borough Council Offices, Southfield Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 2TN - open Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5pm and Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm

Any comments made on the Neighbourhood Plan and/or supporting documents should be sent to Charnwood Borough Council together with your name and address by email to localplans@charnwood.gov.uk or in writing to:

Planning Policy
Charnwood Borough Council
Council Offices
Southfield Road
Loughborough
LE11 2TN

Formal representations should be received by Charnwood Borough Council by no later than Wednesday October 9, 2019 using the contact details above.

Should you have any queries regarding the Neighbourhood Plan or its submission then please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01509 634929 or email localplans@charnwood.gov.uk.

Neighbourhood area designation

A consultation on an application for designation as a joint neighbourhood area by Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council and Hoton Parish Council ended on the September 23, 2014.

This is the first stage of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The application has now been approved and the Parish Councils have been notified so that they can move to the next stage of preparing their plan. Their application can be viewed below:

• Request for Designation as Neighbourhood Area (PDF Document, 0.38 Mb)

The Neighbourhood Area can be viewed below:

• Proposed Neighbourhood Area - Wolds (PDF Document, 5.27 Mb)

Further information on the Neighbourhood Plan will be posted here as it becomes available.

If you have any questions please contact Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council by email burtonclerk@gmail.com or 01509 880471 or Hoton Parish Council by email hotonparishcouncil@googlemail.com or 01509 881447.

In accordance with Part 5 Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning General Regulations 2012 as amended by the Neighbourhood Planning (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (The Regulations), the draft Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan was submitted to Charnwood Borough Council on 19^th August 2019. The Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents can be accessed here:

Charnwood Borough Council will arrange a six-week consultation which will take place before it is sent to an independent Examiner. The Examiner will either recommend that:

i. the Plan is submitted to a referendum;

ii. is modified to meet the 'Basic Conditions' and then submitted to a referendum; or

iii. the Plan is refused.

If the Examiner is satisfied, Charnwood Borough Council will arrange a referendum. If the Plan is approved by a simple majority of those voting in the referendum, the Borough Council will adopt it.

Hoton Parish Council and Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council set up a joint Committee to oversee the production of the Neighbourhood Plan. The committee consists of both Parish Councillors and members of the public.

The Consultation Statement demonstrates how we engaged the community and others in shaping the development of the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan. Further details are set out below.

This was the first consultation event held as part of the process of preparing the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan. It took place on 20 March 2015, 2.00pm to 8.00pm at Burton on the Wolds Village Hall.

Following the first Open Event in Burton on the Wolds, this second event was held in Hoton Village Hall to help engage the residents of Hoton. It took place on 10 June 2015, 3.00pm to 8.00pm.

The Rural Communities Council (RCC) was commissioned by the Wolds Villages Joint Neighbourhood Plan Committee to organise and independently facilitate a consultation workshop of key local stakeholders. Prior to the event an initial survey of local businesses was undertaken with the results fed into the Stakeholder Meeting. Eight responses were received to the survey of local businesses. 32 participated in the Stakeholder Meeting on 23 September 2015.

In March 2016 a questionnaire survey of local households and businesses was undertaken to identify the key issues that the neighbourhood plan needs to look at. It provided an opportunity for local people to have a further say about the future of their area. A total of 388 completed questionnaires were received to this survey.

In May 2016, a Young Person's questionnaire was undertaken for all those aged 11 to 17 years, inviting views of what they thought about where they live and what changes they would like to see. 5 completed questionnaires were received from residents of Burton on the Wolds.

The Joint Neighbourhood Planning Committee prepared a document that looked at the key issues and options that the Neighbourhood Plan needs to address. It is also provided several options to address these issues. A public meeting was arranged in January 2017 to address and discuss these matters.

Under Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, a pre-submission consultation period on the proposed Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan ran from Monday 13 August 2018 to Monday 24 September 2018.

A copy of the Pre-Submission Draft of the Neighbourhood Development Plan was available to download and a summary of the Draft Plan was delivered to all premises within the area. 'Drop in' sessions concerning the Draft Neighbourhood Development Plan also took place.

All representations and comments received have been considered and used to amend the draft Neighbourhood Plan.

The Wolds Villages were designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 5 October 2014. The Plan is being prepared jointly by the two parish councils and covers the period to 2028. The Qualifying Body is Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework was updated on 19 February 2019 and sets out the government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

The planning practice guidance to support the framework is published online.

• National Planning Policy Framework
• Planning Practice Guidance

The adopted Local Plan for Charnwood is made up of the Charnwood Local Plan 2011 to 2028 Core Strategy (2015) and the saved policies from the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan (2004).

• Charnwood Local Plan 2011 to 2028 Core Strategy
• Borough of Charnwood Local Plan (2004)

Charnwood Borough Council is in the process of preparing a new Local Plan for the borough for the period up to 2036.

• Charnwood Landscape Character Assessment
• Borough wide habitat survey
  • Appendix 1 – Phase-1 Habitat Survey Maps
  • Appendix 2 – SSSI, LWS, PLWs And Wildlife Corridors
• Ecology Assessment Report 2019
• Charnwood Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2018

• Listed Buildings in Burton on the Wolds
• Listed Buildings in Cotes
• Listed Buildings in Hoton
• Listed Buildings in Prestwold
• Prestwold Hall
• Deserted Medieval Village, Stanford Lane, Cotes
• Hoton Conservation Area

• Settlement Hierarchy Assessment
• Open spaces and recreation

• Housing supply
• Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment
• 2017 Leicester and Leicestershire Housing and Economic Development Need Assessment
• Leicester City and Leicestershire Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment

• 2006 Burton on the Wolds Village Design Statement
• Hoton conservation area

• Charnwood Borough Council Employment Land Review 2018