Neighbourhood Plans

The 2011 Localism Act has given communities the right to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan. This right is aimed at giving local communities genuine opportunities to influence the future of the places where they live.

On 7 September 2020, Breedon on the Hill agreed to prepare a neighbourhood plan for the parish. The preparation of the Breedon on the Hill Neighbourhood Plan is intended to allow people who live, work and have a business in the area to have a say where they think new houses and businesses should be located and what they should look like. A Neighbourhood Plan can also identify and protect important Local Green Spaces, conserve local heritage and protect areas of nature conservation interest. The Breedon on the Hill Neighbourhood Plan will be a statutory plan which means that once it has been finalised, decisions on planning applications will be made using both the North West Leicestershire Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan, and any other material considerations.

The Breedon on the Hill Neighbourhood Area

The Neighbourhood Area includes the whole of Breedon on the Hill parish. Breedon on the Hill Parish Council applied for Neighbourhood Area designation on 22 September 2020. The Neighbourhood Area was designated by North West Leicestershire District Council on 14 October 2020.

Breedon on the Hill Neighbourhood Area (Parish)

Basic Conditions

Only a draft neighbourhood plan that meets each of a set of basic conditions can be put to a referendum and be adopted. This means that there is not an entirely free hand over how the Plan is prepared. In particular, a Neighbourhood Plan must have regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), National Planning Practice Guidance and the Development Plan for the area.

National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was first published on 27 March 2012 and updated on 24 July 2018, 19 February 2019, 20 July 2021, 5 September 2023 and 19 December 2023. It sets out the Government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

The planning practice guidance to support the framework is published online.

National Planning Policy Framework

Planning Practice Guidance

North West Leicestershire Local Plan

The North West Leicestershire Local Plan (as amended by a Partial Review) was adopted at Council on 16 March 2021. There is a wider ranging review of the Local Plan taking into account changes that have occurred since adoption in 2017, including the publication of a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It will need to identify potential housing and employment sites to meet the identified need, along with the new infrastructure required as well as reviewing the existing policies.

North West Leicestershire Local Plan

Adopted District Wide Policies Map November 2017

Adopted Local Plan Inset Maps November 2017

The review of the Local Plan will also need to take account of one of the strategic growth locations identified in the Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan which covers the northern part of North West Leicestershire and Charnwood Borough.

Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan

What has been done so far

The preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan has been led by a Neighbourhood Plan Working Group of Breedon on the Hill Parish Council which is the Qualifying Body.

Neighbourhood Plan Working Group Terms of Reference

Neighbourhood Plan Working Group Minutes

Our plans for consultation events in 2021 were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All members of society are required to adhere to guidance to help combat the spread of COVID-19 and the guidance has had implications for neighbourhood planning including public consultation.

Questionnaire

A questionnaire was distributed to local households in June 2021. 134 responses were received.

Questionnaire Survey Results

Pre-Submission Consultation
The feedback from the questionnaire results and information about the area helped inform the preparation of the (Pre-Submission) Draft version of the Breedon on the Hill Neighbourhood Plan. Under Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, a pre-submission consultation period of no less than six weeks on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan ran from Monday 30 October to Monday 11 December 2023. All representations and comments received have been considered by Breedon on the Hill Parish Council and used to amend the Pre-Submission Draft of the Plan.

Neighbourhood Plan Funding

All groups undertaking a neighbourhood plan or neighbourhood development order are eligible to apply for up to £10,000. As well as applying for a basic grant, the Parish Council has applied for technical support to help you with the neighbourhood plan. Technical support has been provided by AECOM to undertake a Housing Needs Study and Design Code.

Housing Needs Study

Design Code - Draft

At its meeting of 13th May 2024, Breedon on the Hill Parish Council approved the submission of the Breedon on the Hill Neighbourhood Plan and accompanying documents to North West Leicestershire District Council under Regulation 15 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The District Council must satisfy itself that a draft Neighbourhood Plan complies with all the relevant statutory requirements before a further six-week public consultation takes place and then it is sent to an Independent Examiner.