Neighbourhood Planning Resources
Helping town and parish councils create a neighbourhood plan
This webpage provides information to help town and parish councils decide whether they want to create a neighbourhood plan, and if they do, how to go about preparing one.
We've split the information below into the following sections:
- Deciding to produce a neighbourhood plan
- Getting started
- Preparing the plan
- Sources of evidence and information
- Bringing the plan into force
- Delivering and monitoring the plan
- Other guidance and useful links
- Neighbourhood planning interactive map
Deciding to produce a neighbourhood plan
WBC NP Advice Note 1 - Overview of neighbourhood planning [689kb]- WBC NP Advice Note 2 - Differences between neighbourhood plans and other community plans [26kb]
- Locality Guidance - Step by step roadmap guide to creating a neighbourhood plan
- Locality Guidance - Neighbourhood Development Orders and other community plans
- WBC NP Advice Note 3 - Cost of producing a neighbourhood plan [14kb]
Getting started
- WBC NP Advice Note 4 - Establishing a steering group [26kb]
- Locality Guidance - Producing a terms of reference for the steering group
- WBC NP Advice Note 5 - Designating a Neighbourhood Area [17kb]
- Locality Guidance - Funding support available
WBC NP Template 1 - neighbourhood plan project plan [49kb]- Locality Guidance - How to commission consultants to work on a neighbourhood plan
- WBC NP Advice Note 6 - Neighbourhood planning procedures [32kb]
Preparing the plan
- WBC NP Advice Note 7 - Developing a vision and objectives [37kb]
- WBC NP Advice Note 8 - Generating options [13kb]
Sources of evidence and information
- Locality Guidance - Achieving well-designed places through neighbourhood planning
- WBC NP Advice Note 9 - Sources of evidence and information [518kb]
- Historic England - Neighbourhood planning advice
- WBC Archaeology - Assistance to neighbourhood planning groups [27kb]
- Locality Guidance - How to undertake a Housing Needs Assessment
- WBC Advice Note 10: How to assess and allocate sites for development [262kb]
- Locality Guidance - How to consider the environment in a neighbourhood plan
- Locailty Guidance - How to write a neighbourhood plan in a climate emergency
- WBC NP Advice Note 11 - Local Green Space designations [159kb]
- Locality Guidance - What transport matters can a neighbourhood plan address?
- Locality Guidance - How to consult with the community
- RTPI Planning Aid England Guidance - How to work with landowners and developers [403kb]
- Locality Guidance - Writing planning policies
- RTPI Planning Aid England Guidance - Deconstructed planning policies [501kb]
- Locality Guidance - General conformity with strategic local planning policy
- WBC NP Advice Note 12: Strategic Environmental Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal & Habitat Regulation Assessment [65kb]
- Locality Guidance - Testing the viability of proposals in a neighbourhood plan
- WBC NP Advice Note 13 - Weight of emerging plans [73kb]
- RTPI Planning Aid England Guidance - Structuring a neighbourhood plan [366kb]
Bringing the plan into force
- WBC NP Advice Note 14 - Pre-submission (Regulation 14) consultation [33kb]
- WBC NP Advice Note 15 - Statutory consultees [20kb]
- WBC NP Advice Note 16 - Writing a consultation statement [20kb]
- WBC NP Template 2 - Consultation statement [31kb]
- WBC NP Advice Note 17: What are the Basic Conditions and how to write a Basic Conditions statement [446kb]
- WBC NP Advice Note 18 - Submission checklist [7kb]
- Locality Guidance: How to prepare for, and what to expect, at examination
- WBC NP Advice Note 19 - Referendum [33kb]
- WBC NP Advice Note 20 - Referendum publicity (campaigning) and expenses [172kb]
Delivering and monitoring the plan
Other guidance and useful links
- Locality Guidance - Case studies
- Locality Guidance - Understanding the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
- WBC NP Advice Note 21: Frequently asked questions [306kb]
- Locality Guidance - Glossary of neighbourhood planning terms
- Locality Guidance - Glossary of planning terms
- Locality
- MHCLG Guidance - Changes to neighbourhood planning in response to Coronavirus [89kb]
- MCHLG - Notes on neighbourhood planning
- National Planning Policy Framework
- National Planning Practice Guidance
- Neighbourhood Planning Legislation
- RTPI Planning Aid England
- West Berkshire Council online map
- West Berkshire Council planning application search
Neighbourhood planning interactive map
To help in the preparation of neighbourhood plans, we have developed a neighbourhood planning interactive map which shows constraints, planning applications, the progress of neighbourhood plans in the district, and designations contained within the Local Plan.