updated 12 May 2022
After many years in the making, voting on the Looe Neighbourhood Plan took place on Thursday 12th May with the following question:
“Do you want Cornwall Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Looe to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?” YES or NO
It may not sound very exciting, but the 120-page Neighbourhood Plan is hugely significant for Looe because it contains a set of 50 policies that reflect the town's vision for the future and give us, the community, control over how our neighbourhood develops.
If adopted by a ‘yes’ vote at referendum the Neighbourhood Plan will form a legally binding blueprint - an official document that has to be taken into account by Cornwall Council when deciding planning applications.
Without a completed plan in place Looe would lose the opportunity to dictate what form of building operations or new development takes place, where it happens and what it looks like, leaving decision making in the hands of developers and the planning authority.
Without a completed plan in place Looe would lose the opportunity to dictate what form of building operations or new development takes place, where it happens and what it looks like, leaving decision making in the hands of developers and the planning authority.
It should be emphasised that the Neighbourhood Plan has been produced by a team of ordinary members of the community of Looe and the Looe Town Council with the latter also providing administrative support.
The area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan is outlined in red on the map below.
 |
Neighbourhood Area for Looe (click map to enlarge) |
The Plan contains policies aimed at:
- Limiting the number of second homes by having a 'Principle Residency' clause on page 70 of the Plan,
- Promoting good quality local-need affordable housing but restricted to small groups of up to 25 units,
- Preventing any further large-scale housing development schemes within or near the boundary of Looe,
- Enabling the development of business space to provide employment opportunities for local people,
- Improving the quality of new builds and extensions to maintain the distinctive heritage and maritime character of Looe,
- Respecting the historic buildings and structures of the town and Conservation Area,
- Maintaining the town centres as vibrant retail and social destinations,
- Supporting the adaptation of Looe against rising sea levels due to climate change but any forthcoming flood alleviation scheme subject to a separate consultation process,
- Improving bathing water quality,
- Protecting and enhancing our local green spaces,
- Tackling climate change, protecting and enhancing our natural environment,
- Compelling applicants for building development to take account of land stability and drainage management.
The above is a summary of some of the policies of the Neighbourhood Plan. It is a large document so look for the policy statements i.e. those in a green box as it is these that count - the rest of the text provides justification and explains the intention of the policy. A copy of the Plan can be found here:
Voting cards for the Looe NDP Referendum on 12th May have been sent out by Cornwall Council to all registered electors. For more detail go to the official NDP website:
The Looe NDP embraces the following principles of sustainable development:
So what is Sustainable Development?
In a nutshell: meeting the community’s needs of the present without harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
To get the best outcome for our Town, our Neighbourhood Plan tries to meet the needs of the people who live, work and visit Looe in a way that supports sustainable development.
The guiding principles of sustainable development are:
- Living within the planet’s environmental limits – by protecting and enhancing our natural and man-made environment, and responding to climate change.
- Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society – by meeting present and future needs for the housing, work and services that support the wellbeing of all our community.
- Achieving a sustainable economy – by supporting actions that build prosperity for all and use resources wisely.
- Promoting good governance – by ensuring that we are all involved in creating the Looe Neighbourhood Plan.
Some background on the hierarchy of plan-making:
There are two tiers of plan-making locally that sit below the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as follows:
- The Local (Regional) Plan - prepared by the Local Planning Authority (LPA)
- Neighbourhood Plans - a new level prepared by a Neighbourhood Community
The Local (Regional) Plan:
Being a unitary authority there is only one LPA in Cornwall and only one 'Local Plan' which covers the whole of the region called The Cornwall Local Plan. It comprises a suite of documents which establishes the overall context for future growth and development within the county and sets the framework for all subsequent development plan documents.
The main Strategic Policies document sets out strategic land use policies and housing targets to meet Cornwall’s economic, environmental and social needs and aims for the future but is not intended to include any finer detail relating to specific neighbourhoods.
The Plan simply identifies the quantity, the broad location and some key sites in the county for new housing, community facilities, retail and employment. It identifies land to be protected from development, such as areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and open space. Its policies, together with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and any Neighbourhood Plan, forms the basis for planning decisions.
Neighbourhood Plans (Parish or Town):
The idea of a Neighbourhood Plan, introduced in the Localism Act 2011, is to enable local residents to come together through a forum or parish/ town council and say exactly where they think any new houses, businesses, shops, supermarkets or new facilities should go in their particular area.
A Neighbourhood Plan cannot be allowed to conflict with the policies of the Local Plan, but can identify specific sites or the broad location of any new development, and control the size, type, design and form that such development takes. Once in place a Neighbourhood Plan will become the community's blue-print for change and a material planning consideration that will protect against unwanted development in the locality that conflicts with local wishes.
The idea of a Neighbourhood Plan, introduced in the Localism Act 2011, is to enable local residents to come together through a forum or parish/ town council and say exactly where they think any new houses, businesses, shops, supermarkets or new facilities should go in their particular area.
A Neighbourhood Plan cannot be allowed to conflict with the policies of the Local Plan, but can identify specific sites or the broad location of any new development, and control the size, type, design and form that such development takes. Once in place a Neighbourhood Plan will become the community's blue-print for change and a material planning consideration that will protect against unwanted development in the locality that conflicts with local wishes.
Government's ten-step process for the production of a Neighbourhood Plan:
1. Define the Neighbourhood Area
2. Designate the Neighbourhood Forum (in the case of Looe this is the Town Council)
3. LPA duty to support (in terms of agreeing the area, the forum and providing general guidance and advice as to the shape and content of the Plan)
4. Prepare the Plan
5. LPA validation check (to see whether it is in line with the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy)
6. Independent Examination
7. Examiners Report
8. Plan modifications
9. Referendum (see below)
10. Adoption by local authority
What is the referendum?
Following an examination, the plan needs to be subject to a referendum, where 50% of the votes cast need to be in favour of the plan. As with a general election, the vote is not based on the total population of the area, rather the number of people who actually turn out to vote. If the vote is in favour of the plan the local authority are legally obliged to adopt it for plan making and development control purposes. Its policies will be a material consideration in determining planning applications and appeals for the next ten to fifteen years, after which it will be reviewed and can be updated as necessary.
1. Define the Neighbourhood Area
2. Designate the Neighbourhood Forum (in the case of Looe this is the Town Council)
3. LPA duty to support (in terms of agreeing the area, the forum and providing general guidance and advice as to the shape and content of the Plan)
4. Prepare the Plan
5. LPA validation check (to see whether it is in line with the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy)
6. Independent Examination
7. Examiners Report
8. Plan modifications
9. Referendum (see below)
10. Adoption by local authority
What is the referendum?
Following an examination, the plan needs to be subject to a referendum, where 50% of the votes cast need to be in favour of the plan. As with a general election, the vote is not based on the total population of the area, rather the number of people who actually turn out to vote. If the vote is in favour of the plan the local authority are legally obliged to adopt it for plan making and development control purposes. Its policies will be a material consideration in determining planning applications and appeals for the next ten to fifteen years, after which it will be reviewed and can be updated as necessary.
It should be emphasised that the Neighbourhood Plan is NOT solely a Looe Town Council initiative.
It is a joint project by ordinary members of the community of Looe and the Looe Town Council with the latter also providing administrative support.
The Neighbourhood Development Plan for Looe covers the area outlined in red on the map below. It has been shaped by extensive community engagement and a 10-week formal consultation last year. After independent examination, Cornwall Council approved the Plan for a public referendum on 12th May.
|
Neighbourhood Area for Looe outlined in red (click map to enlarge) |
The Plan contains policies aimed at:
- Limiting the number of second homes by having a principle residency clause on page 70 of the Plan Document,
- Promoting good quality local-need affordable housing but restricted to small groups of up to 25 units,
- Preventing any further large-scale housing development schemes,
- Improving the quality of new builds and extensions to maintain the distinctive heritage and maritime character of Looe,
- Respecting the historic buildings and structures of the town and Conservation Area,
- Enabling the development of Polean to provide business space and employment,
- Maintaining the town centres as vibrant retail and social destinations,
- Preventing Looe from flooding via support for a Harbour Protection Scheme that meets the needs of the town,
- Improving bathing water quality,
- Tackling climate change, protecting and enhancing our natural environment,
- Compelling applicants for building development to take into account land stability, and
- Protecting and enhancing our local green spaces.
The above is a summary of some of the benefits of the Neighbourhood Plan. It is a large document so look for the policy statements i.e. those in a green box as it is these that count - the rest of the text is justification and background information to explain the intention of the policy. A copy of the Plan can be found here:
Voting cards for the Looe NDP Referendum are being sent out by Cornwall Council to all registered electors. For more detail go to the official NDP website:
The Looe NDP embraces the following principles of sustainable development:
So what is Sustainable Development?
In a nutshell: meeting the community’s needs of the present without harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
To get the best outcome for our Town, our Neighbourhood Plan tries to meet the needs of the people who live, work and visit Looe in a way that supports sustainable development.
The guiding principles of sustainable development are:
- Living within the planet’s environmental limits – by protecting and enhancing our natural and man-made environment, and responding to climate change.
- Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society – by meeting present and future needs for the housing, work and services that support the wellbeing of all our community.
- Achieving a sustainable economy – by supporting actions that build prosperity for all and use resources wisely.
- Promoting good governance – by ensuring that we are all involved in creating the Looe Neighbourhood Plan.
Some background on the hierarchy of plan-making:
There are two tiers of plan-making locally that sit below the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as follows:
- The Local (Regional) Plan - prepared by the Local Planning Authority (LPA)
- Neighbourhood Plans - a new level prepared by a Neighbourhood Community
The Local (Regional) Plan:
Being a unitary authority there is only one LPA in Cornwall and only one 'Local Plan' which covers the whole of the region called The Cornwall Local Plan. It comprises a suite of documents which establishes the overall context for future growth and development within the county and sets the framework for all subsequent development plan documents.
The main Strategic Policies document sets out strategic land use policies and housing targets to meet Cornwall’s economic, environmental and social needs and aims for the future but is not intended to include any finer detail relating to specific neighbourhoods.
The Plan simply identifies the quantity, the broad location and some key sites in the county for new housing, community facilities, retail and employment. It identifies land to be protected from development, such as areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and open space. Its policies, together with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and any Neighbourhood Plan, forms the basis for planning decisions.
Neighbourhood Plans (Parish or Town):
The idea of a Neighbourhood Plan, introduced in the Localism Act 2011, is to enable local residents to come together through a forum or parish/ town council and say exactly where they think any new houses, businesses, shops, supermarkets or new facilities should go in their particular area.
A Neighbourhood Plan cannot be allowed to conflict with the policies of the Local Plan, but can identify specific sites or the broad location of any new development, and control the size, type, design and form that such development takes. Once in place a Neighbourhood Plan will become the community's blue-print for change and a material planning consideration that will protect against unwanted development in the locality that conflicts with local wishes.
The idea of a Neighbourhood Plan, introduced in the Localism Act 2011, is to enable local residents to come together through a forum or parish/ town council and say exactly where they think any new houses, businesses, shops, supermarkets or new facilities should go in their particular area.
A Neighbourhood Plan cannot be allowed to conflict with the policies of the Local Plan, but can identify specific sites or the broad location of any new development, and control the size, type, design and form that such development takes. Once in place a Neighbourhood Plan will become the community's blue-print for change and a material planning consideration that will protect against unwanted development in the locality that conflicts with local wishes.
Government's ten-step process for the production of a Neighbourhood Plan:
1. Define the Neighbourhood Area
2. Designate the Neighbourhood Forum (in the case of Looe this is the Town Council)
3. LPA duty to support (in terms of agreeing the area, the forum and providing general guidance and advice as to the shape and content of the Plan)
4. Prepare the Plan
5. LPA validation check (to see whether it is in line with the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy)
6. Independent Examination
7. Examiners Report
8. Plan modifications
9. Referendum (see below)
10. Adoption by local authority
What is the referendum?
Following an examination, the plan needs to be subject to a referendum, where 50% of the votes cast need to be in favour of the plan. As with a general election, the vote is not based on the total population of the area, rather the number of people who actually turn out to vote. If the vote is in favour of the plan the local authority are legally obliged to adopt it for plan making and development control purposes. Its policies will be a material consideration in determining planning applications and appeals for the next ten to fifteen years, after which it will be reviewed and can be updated as necessary.
1. Define the Neighbourhood Area
2. Designate the Neighbourhood Forum (in the case of Looe this is the Town Council)
3. LPA duty to support (in terms of agreeing the area, the forum and providing general guidance and advice as to the shape and content of the Plan)
4. Prepare the Plan
5. LPA validation check (to see whether it is in line with the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy)
6. Independent Examination
7. Examiners Report
8. Plan modifications
9. Referendum (see below)
10. Adoption by local authority
What is the referendum?
Following an examination, the plan needs to be subject to a referendum, where 50% of the votes cast need to be in favour of the plan. As with a general election, the vote is not based on the total population of the area, rather the number of people who actually turn out to vote. If the vote is in favour of the plan the local authority are legally obliged to adopt it for plan making and development control purposes. Its policies will be a material consideration in determining planning applications and appeals for the next ten to fifteen years, after which it will be reviewed and can be updated as necessary.
It should be emphasised that the Neighbourhood Plan is NOT solely a Looe Town Council initiative.
It is a joint project by ordinary members of the community of Looe and the Looe Town Council with the latter also providing administrative support.
The Neighbourhood Development Plan for Looe covers the area outlined in red on the map below. It has been shaped by extensive community engagement and a 10-week formal consultation last year. After independent examination, Cornwall Council approved the Plan for a public referendum on 12th May.
|
Neighbourhood Area for Looe outlined in red (click map to enlarge) |
We're a fan of the
Neighbourhood Plan
because...
because...
The Plan contains policies aimed at:
- Limiting the number of second homes by having a principle residency clause on page 70 of the Plan Document,
- Promoting good quality local-need affordable housing but restricted to small groups of up to 25 units,
- Preventing any further large-scale housing development schemes,
- Improving the quality of new builds and extensions to maintain the distinctive heritage and maritime character of Looe,
- Respecting the historic buildings and structures of the town and Conservation Area,
- Enabling the development of Polean to provide business space and employment,
- Maintaining the town centres as vibrant retail and social destinations,
- Preventing Looe from flooding via support for a Harbour Protection Scheme that meets the needs of the town,
- Improving bathing water quality,
- Tackling climate change, protecting and enhancing our natural environment,
- Compelling applicants for building development to take into account land stability, and
- Protecting and enhancing our local green spaces.
The above is a summary of some of the benefits of the Neighbourhood Plan. It is a large document so look for the policy statements i.e. those in a green box as it is these that count - the rest of the text is justification and background information to explain the intention of the policy. A copy of the Plan can be found here:
Voting cards for the Looe NDP Referendum are being sent out by Cornwall Council to all registered electors. For more detail go to the official NDP website:
The Looe NDP embraces the following principles of sustainable development:
So what is Sustainable Development?
In a nutshell: meeting the community’s needs of the present without harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
To get the best outcome for our Town, our Neighbourhood Plan tries to meet the needs of the people who live, work and visit Looe in a way that supports sustainable development.
The guiding principles of sustainable development are:
- Living within the planet’s environmental limits – by protecting and enhancing our natural and man-made environment, and responding to climate change.
- Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society – by meeting present and future needs for the housing, work and services that support the wellbeing of all our community.
- Achieving a sustainable economy – by supporting actions that build prosperity for all and use resources wisely.
- Promoting good governance – by ensuring that we are all involved in creating the Looe Neighbourhood Plan.
There are two tiers of plan-making locally that sit below the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as follows:
The Local (Regional) Plan:
Being a unitary authority there is only one LPA in Cornwall and only one 'Local Plan' which covers the whole of the region called The Cornwall Local Plan. It comprises a suite of documents which establishes the overall context for future growth and development within the county and sets the framework for all subsequent development plan documents.
The main Strategic Policies document sets out strategic land use policies and housing targets to meet Cornwall’s economic, environmental and social needs and aims for the future but is not intended to include any finer detail relating to specific neighbourhoods.
The Plan simply identifies the quantity, the broad location and some key sites in the county for new housing, community facilities, retail and employment. It identifies land to be protected from development, such as areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and open space. Its policies, together with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and any Neighbourhood Plan, forms the basis for planning decisions.
- The Local (Regional) Plan - prepared by the Local Planning Authority (LPA)
- Neighbourhood Plans - a new level prepared by a Neighbourhood Community
The Local (Regional) Plan:
Being a unitary authority there is only one LPA in Cornwall and only one 'Local Plan' which covers the whole of the region called The Cornwall Local Plan. It comprises a suite of documents which establishes the overall context for future growth and development within the county and sets the framework for all subsequent development plan documents.
The main Strategic Policies document sets out strategic land use policies and housing targets to meet Cornwall’s economic, environmental and social needs and aims for the future but is not intended to include any finer detail relating to specific neighbourhoods.
The Plan simply identifies the quantity, the broad location and some key sites in the county for new housing, community facilities, retail and employment. It identifies land to be protected from development, such as areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and open space. Its policies, together with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and any Neighbourhood Plan, forms the basis for planning decisions.
Neighbourhood Plans (Parish or Town):
The idea of a Neighbourhood Plan, introduced in the Localism Act 2011, is to enable local residents to come together through a forum or parish/ town council and say exactly where they think any new houses, businesses, shops, supermarkets or new facilities should go in their particular area.
A Neighbourhood Plan cannot be allowed to conflict with the policies of the Local Plan, but can identify specific sites or the broad location of any new development, and control the size, type, design and form that such development takes. Once in place a Neighbourhood Plan will become the community's blue-print for change and a material planning consideration that will protect against unwanted development in the locality that conflicts with local wishes.
The idea of a Neighbourhood Plan, introduced in the Localism Act 2011, is to enable local residents to come together through a forum or parish/ town council and say exactly where they think any new houses, businesses, shops, supermarkets or new facilities should go in their particular area.
A Neighbourhood Plan cannot be allowed to conflict with the policies of the Local Plan, but can identify specific sites or the broad location of any new development, and control the size, type, design and form that such development takes. Once in place a Neighbourhood Plan will become the community's blue-print for change and a material planning consideration that will protect against unwanted development in the locality that conflicts with local wishes.
Government's ten-step process for the production of a Neighbourhood Plan:
1. Define the Neighbourhood Area
2. Designate the Neighbourhood Forum (in the case of Looe this is the Town Council)
3. LPA duty to support (in terms of agreeing the area, the forum and providing general guidance and advice as to the shape and content of the Plan)
4. Prepare the Plan
5. LPA validation check (to see whether it is in line with the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy)
6. Independent Examination
7. Examiners Report
8. Plan modifications
9. Referendum (see below)
10. Adoption by local authority
What is the referendum?
Following an examination, the plan needs to be subject to a referendum, where 50% of the votes cast need to be in favour of the plan. As with a general election, the vote is not based on the total population of the area, rather the number of people who actually turn out to vote. If the vote is in favour of the plan the local authority are legally obliged to adopt it for plan making and development control purposes. Its policies will be a material consideration in determining planning applications and appeals for the next ten to fifteen years, after which it will be reviewed and can be updated as necessary.
1. Define the Neighbourhood Area
2. Designate the Neighbourhood Forum (in the case of Looe this is the Town Council)
3. LPA duty to support (in terms of agreeing the area, the forum and providing general guidance and advice as to the shape and content of the Plan)
4. Prepare the Plan
5. LPA validation check (to see whether it is in line with the strategic objectives of the Core Strategy)
6. Independent Examination
7. Examiners Report
8. Plan modifications
9. Referendum (see below)
10. Adoption by local authority
What is the referendum?
Following an examination, the plan needs to be subject to a referendum, where 50% of the votes cast need to be in favour of the plan. As with a general election, the vote is not based on the total population of the area, rather the number of people who actually turn out to vote. If the vote is in favour of the plan the local authority are legally obliged to adopt it for plan making and development control purposes. Its policies will be a material consideration in determining planning applications and appeals for the next ten to fifteen years, after which it will be reviewed and can be updated as necessary.
