Neighbourhood planning

Neighbourhood planning was introduced in the Localism Act 2011. It is an important and powerful tool that gives communities statutory powers to shape how their communities develop.

In very simple terms, a neighbourhood plan is:

• a document that sets out planning policies for the neighbourhood area – planning policies are used to decide whether to approve planning applications
• written by the local community, the people who know and love the area, rather than being written by the Local Planning Authority
• a powerful tool to ensure the community gets the right types of development, in the right place

Neighbourhood planning is a process where communities can come together and prepare plans that will guide the type of development they would like to see in their area.

Birmingham City Council (BCC) set out its approach to localism in its 2019 policy document "Working Together in Birmingham's Neighbourhoods":

Read the Working Together in Birmingham's Neighbourhoods policy document

The policy document sets out several options that Birmingham communities can explore with our support. These options include neighbourhood plans.

Enabling communities to explore and develop neighbourhood plans in their area is an important part of the Birmingham Localism approach.

BCC teams, including Neighbourhood Development and Support Unit (NDSU) and Planning, work with local communities to help them explore neighbourhood plans as an option in their area, and support them if they decide to develop a neighbourhood plan.

We will offer technical guidance and assistance, but the local community will be the driving force, and take responsibility for writing their neighbourhood plan document.

Once a recognised Neighbourhood Forum or Parish Council have generated ideas and proposals, and consulted locally, an independent examiner will check that the proposals follow local and national policy, and that they are deliverable. The plan will then be put to a referendum, and people on the local electoral register in the plan area can vote on the proposals.

If the majority of people vote in favour, we will approve the proposals as a neighbourhood development plan. It will then be used to determine planning applications for development in that area.

If you would like to create a neighbourhood plan for your area

• First have a look at the Birmingham's Neighbourhood Planning toolkit 
• Visit the government’s My Community website

If you want to discuss developing a neighbourhood plan in your area further, email us: NDSU@birmingham.gov.uk

Page last updated: 18 July 2023