Neighbourhood planning allows parish councils and their communities to decide the future of the places where they live, by having the option to create:
- Neighbourhood Development Plans
- Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDO)
- Community Right to Build Order (CRtBO)
Neighbourhood Plans, Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders can be used to add more detail to the policies in the council’s Local Plan, or cover other aspects appropriate to the aspirations of the community living in the area.
Neighbourhood Plans are the most popular option prepared by parish councils, with support from East Cambridgeshire District Council. Once consulted upon, finalised and deemed to meet certain regulations, they are put to a local referendum of the community. If that referendum is successful, they are then formally ‘made’ part of the Development Plan for East Cambridgeshire and are used by the district council to determine planning applications.
Advice and guidance
East Cambridgeshire District Council is here to help parish councils and their communities prepare a Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Development Order or a Community Right to Build Order. The council's Statement of Community Involvement sets out the steps required, and how the council will assist in Neighbourhood Planning.
For more information, the charity Locality (external link) has produced useful guidance and tool kits, and details how to apply for government funding to help with the costs of Neighbourhood Planning.
Contact us
If you have any questions or queries, please contact the Strategic Planning team:
Tel: 01353 665555
Email: planningpolicy@eastcambs.gov.uk
Or write to: Strategic Planning, East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EE.
Latest news
Soham and Barway Neighbourhood Plan consultation April to May 2024
A final round of consultation on the Soham Neighbourhood Plan will commence in April 2024 for 6 weeks. For full details of the consultation and what happens next, please visit the dedicated Soham and Barway Neighbourhood Plan page.
Sutton Replacement Neighbourhood Plan examination underway
A final round of consultation on the Replacement Sutton Neighbourhood Plan closed on 14 February 2024. An Examiner is finalising his report of recommendations which should be available soon. For full details of what happens next, please visit the dedicated Sutton Neighbourhood Plan page.
Cheveley Neighbourhood Plan Examiner appointed April 2024
Cheveley Neighbourhood Plan has finished its final consultation stage and is now being independently examined. For full details please see the dedicated Cheveley Neighbourhood Plan page.
Mepal Neighbourhood Plan Referendum on 13 June 2024
The Mepal Neighbourhood Plan, as prepared by Mepal Parish Council, has finished its final consultation stage (consultation closed 15 December 2023). An independent Examiner has recommended it should proceed to a referendum, which will take place on 13 June. For full details of what happens next, please visit the dedicated Mepal Neighbourhood Plan webpage.
Neighbourhood Planning in East Cambridgeshire
Seven Neighbourhood Plans have been formally 'made' by East Cambridgeshire District Council, whilst fifteen parishes are designated Neighbourhood Areas as shown on the Map of Designated Neighbourhood Areas (January 2023) (PDF).
The following table provides a summary of each neighbourhood planning project in the district. For further information, please contact the relevant parish or town council.
Qualifying body | Date area designated | Map of neighbourhood area | Current stage | Date plan formally 'made' |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sutton Parish Council | 08 Jan 2015; amended 27 May 2021 | Sutton Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Plan made: see Sutton Neighbourhood Plan. Replacement Plan at examination. See Sutton Neighbourhood Plan | 30 May 2019 |
Bottisham Parish Council | 12 Feb 2016 | Bottisham Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | ||
Witchford Parish Council | 26 Aug 2016; amended 06 Feb 2019 | Witchford Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Plan made: see Witchford Neighbourhood Plan | 21 May 2020 |
Fordham Parish Council | 21 Dec 2017 | Fordham Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Plan made: see Fordham Neighbourhood Plan | 18 Dec 2018 |
Cheveley Parish Council | 10 Dec 2018 | Cheveley Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Final consultation stage February to March 2024. See: Cheveley Neighbourhood Plan | |
Swaffham Bulbeck Parish Council | 07 Jan 2019 | Swaffham Bulbeck Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Plan made: see Swaffham Bulbeck Neighbourhood Plan | 21 February 2023 |
Reach Parish Council | 18 Feb 2019 | Plan made: see Reach Neighbourhood Plan | 20 February 2024 | |
Isleham Parish Council | 21 Feb 2019 | Isleham Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Plan made: see Isleham Neighbourhood Plan | 19 May 2022 |
Soham Parish Council | 12 Jun 2019 | Soham Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Final consultation stage April to May 2024. See Soham and Barway Neighbourhood Plan page | |
Haddenham Parish Council | 06 Aug 2019; amended 10 June 2021 | Haddenham Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Plan made: see Haddenham and Aldreth Neighbourhood Plan | 20 October 2022 |
Mepal Parish Council | 28 February 2022 | Mepal Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | Referendum due in June 2024: see Mepal Neighbourhood Plan | |
Littleport Parish Council | 3 August 2022 | Littleport Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | ||
Witcham Parish Council | 9 January 2023 | Witcham Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) | ||
Chippenham Parish Council | 15 January 2024 | Chippenham Neighbourhood Area Map (PDF) |
If you require accessible documents please email planningpolicy@eastcambs.gov.uk
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