This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
If the referendum is agreed, residents of the Bembridge area will be asked to vote on the plan on 24 July this year – and it will be the first such referendum to be held on the Island since new regulations were introduced under the Localism Act 2011.
If approved by the majority of voters, the plan will come into force as soon as possible after the referendum.
What is the Bembridge Neighbourhood Development Plan?
The Bembridge Neighbourhood Development Plan is one of a series of such plans currently being developed across the Island. Altogether five areas have requested neighbourhood plans. As well as Bembridge they are Brading, Brighstone, Freshwater and Gurnard.
A formal request must be made and a regulated process followed for the development of a neighbourhood plan. In the five areas currently going through the process, requests were made by the parish councils.
A outcome of The Localism Act
The Bembridge Neighbourhood Development Plan (like the other neighbourhood plans) is a planning document designed to work alongside the National Planning Policy Framework and the Island Plan Core Strategy.
If the neighbourhood plan is approved, it will be used alongside the other two documents to help determine planning applications in the parish of Bembridge in accordance with the wishes of and parameters set by Bembridge residents.
The Localism Act introduced the mechanism for local communities to produce neighbourhood plans. A significant amount of local consultation has already shaped the Bembridge plan – and the council has a legal responsibility to proceed to a referendum once it considers the plan meets basic conditions.
Six-week formal consultation
A six-week formal consultation on the Bembridge plan took place between 7 February and 24 March this year, and 23 representations were received.
The document and representations were then considered by an independent examiner, who has recommended the plan, with some modifications, goes to referendum. The modifications have also been discussed by planning officers and Bembridge Parish Council.
The Isle of Wight Council can claim £20,000 in government grant payment for each neighbourhood plan, with the grant going towards the development, examination and referendum for a plan.
It is understood the Bembridge plan is among the first, if not the first such plan under the new regulations, in the wider Hampshire area as well as the Island.
Ensuring a strong framework in place
Executive member for planning and regulatory services, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, said:
“The neighbourhood plans will form a key part of the overall determination process for planning applications across the Island.
“Through the process of development, consultation, examination and ultimately a referendum in each of these areas, it is hoped a thorough, relevant and representative local document can be adopted.
“Combined with the national policy and Island Plan documents, it is hoped these neighbourhood plans will ensure a strong and appropriate framework is in place to serve these areas over years to come.”
Image: treehouse1977 under CC BY 2.0
