Emerging neighbourhood plans

News

Update

In accordance with the guidance provided by the council, on 13 November 2024, the Soho and Handsworth Neighbourhood Planning pre-steering group formally decided to withdraw its applications for both area and forum designation.

This decision will allow the pre-steering group to revise the proposed neighbourhood area boundary in response to the representations received. We have acknowledged and accepted this formal request and will therefore stop assessing the current applications.

We are actively collaborating with the pre-steering Group to help them prepare a new application.

Consultation

Soho and Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area Application consultation has been extended and will now close on the 18 of October 2024.

Designation

Small Heath Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area designated by Cabinet member decision by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills on 8th August 2024.

Soho and Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area Application consultation

Tuesday 20 August to Friday 18 October 2024.

An application has been submitted by community members in Soho and Handsworth for the council to consider the designation of a Neighbourhood Planning Forum and Neighbourhood Plan area boundary.

The application must now be publicised by the council for a minimum of 6 weeks in accordance with Neighbourhood Planning regulations.

The application includes:

Download all Soho and Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum application documents

Your comments

You can comment on the Neighbourhood Plan area boundary and Forum application through Birmingham Be Heard or by email: Developmentplanninggroup@birmingham.gov.uk

The public consultation starts on Tuesday 20 August.

Your comments must be received by Friday 18 October 2024.

Designation decision

Any comments received will be considered in the council’s decision to designate the Neighbourhood Plan area boundary and Forum.

A decision on the designation of a Neighbourhood Plan area boundary and Forum must be made by the council within 13 weeks of the start of consultation and will be published here in October/November 2024.

Next steps

The designation of a Neighbourhood Plan Forum and area is the first stage of the process for members of the local community to begin forming a Neighbourhood Development Plan, which is community led.

If the Forum is designated, no other body can be designated to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the designated area, until the designation expires or is withdrawn in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations.

If designated, the Forum will start to draft the Neighbourhood Development Plan and will 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 Soho and Handsworth, email the emerging Neighbourhood Plan Forum: sohoandhandsworth@mail.com


Small Heath Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area Designation

Small Heath Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area was designated by Cabinet member decision by the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills on 8th August 2024.

The Neighbourhood Forum is in accordance with Neighbourhood Planning regulations, established for the purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of the area as outlined in the application.

The Neighbourhood Forum has in accordance with NP regulations taken reasonable steps to secure membership of 21 members (to include at least one individual who lives or works in the neighbourhood area and one elected member of the Council) and from different sections of the community and area.

The public consultation for the Neighbourhood Forum and area application took place on Wednesday 8 May to Thursday 20 June 2024 in accordance with Neighbourhood Planning regulations.

See Beheard for further 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 and 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 wish to explore in a NP are set out in the application and include:

  • Local planning (incorporating housing and employment)
  • Open spaces and 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

The designation of a Neighbourhood Plan Forum and area is the first stage of the process for members of the local community to begin forming a Neighbourhood Development Plan, which is community led. The council 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 expires or is withdrawn in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations.

The designated Neighbourhood Forum can now apply for government funded technical support to prepare an evidence base and draft the Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Neighbourhood Forum will then lead 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 directly smallheathplan@outlook.com.

Contact: Developmentplanninggroup@Birmingham.gov.uk or NDSU@birmingham.gov.uk


Page last updated: 18 November 2024

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