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Emerging neighbourhood plans | Neighbourhood planning | Birmingham City Council
Neighbourhood planning

Emerging neighbourhood plans

Ladywood Neighbourhood Forum and neighbourhood area application consultation

Consultation dates: Thursday 16 April to Friday 29 May 2026

Community members in Ladywood have submitted an application to the council for the designation of a neighbourhood planning forum and a neighbourhood plan area boundary.

We must publicise the application for a minimum of 6 weeks, in accordance with Neighbourhood Planning Regulations.

The application includes:

  • the proposed geographic neighbourhood plan boundary
  • a statement of how community members meet the regulations, to become the relevant body to prepare the neighbourhood development plan
  • a proposed constitution
  • details of consultation events that were held in the area

Download the application and accompanying documents. 

Your comments

You can comment on the neighbourhood plan area boundary and forum application:

We must receive your comments by Friday 29 May 2026.

Designation decision

Any comments we receive will be considered when we decide to designate the neighbourhood plan area boundary and forum.

We must make a decision within 13 weeks of the start of consultation.

We will publish the decision in July 2026.

Next steps

Designating a neighbourhood plan forum and area is the first stage of the process for members of the local community to begin developing a community-led neighbourhood development plan.

If the forum is designated, no other body can be designated to prepare a neighbourhood development plan for the designated area, until the designation, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations:

  • expires
  • is withdrawn

If designated, the forum will begin drafting the neighbourhood development plan and lead formal consultation with the local community.

The neighbourhood development plan is subject to an independent examination and a local referendum before it is 'made'.

How you can get involved

If you want to get involved in a neighbourhood plan for Ladywood, email the Emerging Neighbourhood Plan Forum: ladywoodunite@gmail.com.

Soho and Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum and neighbourhood area designation

The first step in creating a neighbourhood plan is to officially define the area it will cover and to form a neighbourhood forum to set the plan's boundary.

Community members in Soho and Handsworth submitted an application requesting the designation of both a neighbourhood planning forum and a neighbourhood area.

In line with Neighbourhood Planning Regulations, we carried out the required statutory consultations. Following this process, on the 23 of October 2025, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills approved the application for the designation of the Soho and Handsworth Neighbourhood Plan Forum and area boundary.

You can view the official decision notice and related documents below:

How you can get involved

If you want to get involved in a neighbourhood plan for Soho and Handsworth, email the emerging Neighbourhood Plan Forum sohohandsworth@outlook.com.

Small Heath Neighbourhood Forum and neighbourhood area designation

The Small Heath Neighbourhood Forum and neighbourhood area were designated by a Cabinet member decision of the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, on 8 August 2024.

The neighbourhood forum, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations, is established to promote or improve the area's social, economic, and environmental well-being, as outlined in the application.

In accordance with the regulations, the neighbourhood forum has taken reasonable steps to secure membership of 21 members from different sections of the community and area, to include:

  • at least one individual who lives or works in the neighbourhood area
  • one elected member of the council

The public consultation for the neighbourhood forum and area application took place from Wednesday 8 May to Thursday 20 June 2024.

See Birmingham Be Heard for more information on the consultation response received.

The application includes:

  • the geographic neighbourhood plan boundary
  • a statement of how community members meet the regulations to become the relevant body to prepare a neighbourhood development plan
  • a proposed constitution
  • details of consultation events that were held in the area

Download all Small Heath Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum application documents.

Planning themes the neighbourhood forum want to explore in a neighbourhood plan are set out in the application, and include:

  • local planning (incorporating housing and employment)
  • open spaces
  • green spaces
  • planning and development of the Coventry Road
  • reduction of poverty and promotion of opportunities for residents and businesses
  • youth initiatives and development

Next steps

Designating a neighbourhood plan forum and area is the first stage of the process for members of the local community to begin developing a community-led neighbourhood development plan. We have a statutory duty to support the process.

No other body can be designated to prepare a neighbourhood development plan for the designated area until the designation, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations:

  • expires
  • is withdrawn

The designated neighbourhood forum can now apply for government-funded technical support to prepare an evidence-based, and draft the neighbourhood development plan.

The neighbourhood forum will then lead a formal consultation with the local community on draft proposals.

The neighbourhood development plan is subject to an independent examination and a local referendum before it is 'made'.

How you can get involved

If you want to get involved in the neighbourhood plan for Small Heath, email the Neighbourhood Plan Forum smallheathplan@outlook.com.

Email: Developmentplanninggroup@birmingham.gov.uk or NDSU@birmingham.gov.uk.

Page last updated: 16 April 2026

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