Decision details

1.            Thepurpose ofthis decisionis toagree onthe proposeddesignation ofthe parishof Girton as a Neighbourhood Area (NA). (See Appendix A – the application submitted by Girton Parish Council (PC)).

Background

2.            A NA must be designated before a PC can prepare a Neighbourhood Plan (NP).There are national regulations guiding how this designation should be carried out which were revised in February 2015 and in October 2016.

3.            The 2016 revision to the regulations state that a local planning authority must designate a Neighbourhood Area if it receives a valid application and some or all of the area has not yet been designated (see section 61G(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Act as applied to Neighbourhood plans by section 38A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004). Where a PC has applied for the whole of their parish to be designated the local planning authority must designate all of the area applied for.

4.            A valid Neighbourhood Area application is one where a ‘relevant body1’ has submitted an application to the local planning authority that must include:

·         amap whichidentifies thearea towhich thearea applicationrelates

·         a statement explaining why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area; and

·         astatement thatthe organisationor bodymaking thearea applicationis arelevant body for the purposes of section 61G of the 1990 Act.

Theapplication fromGirton ParishCouncil

5.            The application from Girton Parish Council is for the whole of their parish to be designated as a Neighbourhood Area. None of this area has been previously designated for neighbourhood planning purposes and the application includes all the information required.

Considerationby SouthCambridgeshire DistrictCouncil

6.            South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) is supportive of Girton PC preparing a NP for its parish and keen for the two councils to work together in considering the future development of the area. SCDC recognises that by preparing a NP the PC aims to play a key role alongside SCDC in shaping the future of the village.

7.            SCDC considers that the application submitted by Girton Parish Council is valid and therefore that the parish of Girton should be designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

LocalDevelopment Scheme

8.            The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the planning documents that SCDC and Cambridge City Council proposes to prepare. A section in the LDS lists the Neighbourhood Areas designated within the Greater Cambridge area. As Girton NA is being recommended for designation it is proposed that an amendment be made to the section of the LDS when it is next reviewed.

That the Joint Director for Planning and EconomicDevelopment, havingconsulted with the Planning Lead Member, approves:

a)            The designation of a Neighbourhood Area for Girton as proposed by the Parish Council.

b)            An amendment to be made to the    section about Neighbourhood Areas of the Local Development Scheme when the LDS is next reviewed so that Girton can be added to the list of Neighbourhood Areas designated within the District.

The national regulations and planning guidance for neighbourhood plans states that a local planning authority must designate a Neighbourhood Area if it receives a valid application from the relevant qualifying body. Where a PC has applied for the whole of their parish to be designated the local planning authoritymust designateall ofthe areaapplied for.

Girton PC has made a valid application to designate its whole parish. There is therefore noother optionbut toapprove thedesignation of the Girton Neighbourhood Area.

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