Abbots Bromley Parish Neighbourhood Plan – April 2020

Published 16 April 2020

A Parish Neighbourhood Plan is currently being brought to the Draft stage for public consultation. This is being severely affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

At this time there is little that can be done to positively progress the production of the Plan. However, the Neighbourhood Planning Group are communicating and working from home to continue as best as possible with the process.

Please see below a directive recently received by the Parish Council in relation to referendum arrangements associated with Neighbourhood Plans, which will inform of the advice and guidance that we must follow:

Regulations linked to the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that No elections or referendums can take place until 6 May 2021. This includes Neighbourhood Planning referendums. These provisions will be kept under review and may be amended or revoked in response to changing circumstances.

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) recognises there will be delays in progressing Neighbourhood Plans due to the social distancing measures currently in place across the UK. The updated planning guidance also provides further advice on the implications for conducting publicity and consultation, and examinations.

MHCLG understands this will be frustrating for communities that have dedicated significant time and effort to the neighbourhood planning process and naturally want their plans to come into force as soon as possible. With this in mind, they have updated current planning guidance to set out that Neighbourhood Plans awaiting referendums can be given significant weight in decision-making.

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