The Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan

The referendum on the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan took place on 6 May 2021 and the plan is now made (i.e. has become official planning policy) and must be taken into consideration when Charnwood Borough Council determine planning applications.

Charnwood Borough Council issued a statement on 2 April 2020 declaring that the plan may now proceed to referendum. The referendum was delayed until 6 May 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

THIS CONSULTATION HAS ENDED. THE PARAGRAPH BELOW IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

Following the consultation on the draft plan in September 2018, your Neighbourhood Plan Committee considered the representations put forward and, where it was felt appropriate, made changes to the plan before submitting it to Charnwood Borough Council who have arranged for a public consultation on this latest version.

This pre-examination consultation is the final chance for residents and stakeholders to put forward their views on The Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan before it is examined by an independent examiner for soundness. Any comments you have - both positive and negative - must be sent to Charnwood Borough Council before the deadline of Monday 4th November 2019.

The plan has been prepared jointly with Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council; additional supporting documents may be downloaded from their website.

THIS CONSULTATION HAS ENDED: THE PARAGRAPH BELOW IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Public consultation on the pre-submission version of the Wolds Neighbourhood Plan will run from Monday 13 August to Monday 24 September 2018. It offers residents and other stakeholders the last opportunity to influence the Neighbourhood Plan for the villages of Hoton, Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold.

The Draft Neighbourhood Plan for the Wolds Villages has been produced using your opinions and comments from the returned questionnaires, together with those of other stakeholders and interested parties consulted over the last three years. This is not a finished document, it is a draft for you to read and comment on.

• Are there things we have omitted?
• Are there any sections that are not clear?
• Are there items you think may be wrong?
• You are also encouraged to tell us what you like about the plan.

The full draft plan contains policies on topics such as:

• Housing
• Environment
• Services and facilities
• Transport and traffic
• Economy

This Neighbourhood Plan Pre-submission Consultation is in line with Regulation 14 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended). All those who live, work or carry on business in the neighbourhood area, as well as all statutory consultees and stakeholders, are encouraged to examine the Draft Plan and provide feedback during the 6 week consultation period.

To download a copy of the Draft Neighbourhood Plan and a summary click on the links below:

Over the past five years, the parish councils of Hoton and Burton on the Wolds, Prestwold and Cotes have put together a Neighbourhood Plan.

What is Neighbourhood Planning?

Neighbourhood Planning is a relatively new process, which has been designed to enable the local community to influence the planning and development of the area in which they live and work. Development does not just mean more houses; it includes planning for shops, businesses, transport and community facilities. Neighbourhood Planning enables people to shape the place in which they live their lives.

Residents' Survey - March 2016

In 2015 we held consultation events for residents and the ideas and views put forward at those events were used to develop a questionnaire. This was delivered to all households in the plan area in March 2015 and collected by hand. The results of this survey determined the underpinning principles and overall direction of the plan we have developed. There was also a Young Persons' Survey for those aged 11 to 17.

What was the purpose of these surveys?

Finding out what people think and drawing on their skills and knowledge is an important part of developing a neighbourhood plan. The results were used to help identify:

• If any new development is required and the most appropriate location for this
• The type and style of buildings that will best meet community needs
• Green spaces, buildings and areas that should be protected
• Any improvements or additions needed to local amenities, services and recreational facilities
• Improvements required to the public footpath, bus and road networks

First draft of the Neighbourhood Plan

In August-September 2018 we published a draft plan and consulted the community for a period of six weeks as detailed above. Following this we analysed the comments and made further changes before publishing the 'pre-examination' version of your neighbourhood plan. This version is now undergoing consultation (see the top of this page on how to comment)

Why does it matter?

The planning system helps decide what gets built, where and when. The Charnwood Core Strategy sets out the general aims for development across the whole borough. A neighbourhood plan provides the opportunity to focus on more detailed issues, specific to the locality. The Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan will cover the whole parish councils' area. In addition to the settlements of Hoton, Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold, it will include Hoton Park, outlying farms and businesses, Wymeswold Industrial Estate and the surrounding countryside.

Our Neighbourhood Plan cannot prevent development that has been included in Charnwood's Core Strategy, but it can set out what type of development is appropriate and where it should be located.

Neighbourhood plans have a statutory status, which means that any decisions made on planning applications by the borough or county councils would need to take into consideration the Wolds Villages Neighbourhood Plan. It will ensure that the needs, views and priorities of the local community are fully considered when assessing future planning applications and proposed developments within the area.

We need your views to develop and implement a shared vision for the future of the Wolds.

Hoton Parish Council and Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold Parish Council set up a joint committee in 2014 to oversee the production of the Neighbourhood Plan. The committee consists of both parish councillors and members of the public.

The Joint Committee are assisted by working parties in the following areas:

Environment
Economy
Traffic & Transport
Housing
Facilities & Services

If you are interested in joining either the Committee or a Working Party, or are able to help with delivering information to houses in the plan area, please contact the clerk, Clare Blain, by emailing hotonparishcouncil@googlemail.com