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Introduction:

Changes in legislation mean that we can be more involved in influencing development in our parish as well as conservation.  A group of residents is helping the Parish Council put together a Neighbourhood Plan for Exbourne.  This will be a document with statutory weight, which should reflect the needs and values of the whole community and allow us to conserve and enrich our parish.

The Exbourne Neighbourhood Plan Group will be consulting the community throughout the project with the aim of producing a Neighbourhood Plan that reflects your views.  The final Plan will be put before the community for formal approval by referendum.

Vision and aims

Based on consultation with the community, the following draft vision for Exbourne has been created for the Neighbourhood Plan:

“In 2030 Exbourne is a quiet, rural parish with agriculture and a great community at its heart.  Its natural environment, character, built heritage, and green spaces have been retained and remain unspoiled.  Its local businesses and facilities have been sustained, with people at all stages of life provided for.”

This vision led to the development of the following draft aims which have been categorised under four headings that will be addressed in the Neighbourhood Plan:

Housing and built environment

  • Enable local people to stay in the parish throughout their lifetime as their needs change.
  • Protect our heritage and built environment and ensure new development is sympathetic to the character of the area.

Natural environment

  • Protect and enhance our quiet and rural natural environment.

Roads and parking

  • Maintain and enhance safe accessibility and make parking easier.

Community, facilities, and wellbeing

  • Sustain and enhance the character, vitality and community spirit of the village.

The vision will be at the heart of the Neighbourhood Plan and, together with the Plan’s aims and objectives, will form a framework on which policies are developed.  All will be subject to further community consultation in due course.

Why are we doing this?

You may be aware that Plymouth City Council, South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council (‘WDBC’) have produced a single development plan covering their areas – a Joint Local Plan (‘JLP’).  The JLP identifies a need for a minimum of 300 new houses across West Devon’s 20 main villages for the period to 2034.  It suggests Exbourne is able to accommodate around 30 new dwellings in this period.

The Government’s Localism Act 2011 (part 6/3) introduced new powers for people to make neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood planning orders, with reduced interference from central government.  These new powers are in addition to existing opportunities for community involvement, which are already part of the planning system.  The legislation came into effect in April 2012:

“Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area.  They are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like, what infrastructure should be provided and grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead.  Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community where the ambition of the neighbourhood is aligned with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area”.

In order to deliver the required housing across West Devon’s villages, the JLP suggests devolving responsibility for the allocation of housing sites to neighbourhood plans in the first instance.  A neighbourhood plan for Exbourne would reflect the needs and values of the whole community and allow us to have an influence over development of the village.  It would have the same legal status as the JLP, meaning it would have statutory weight when planning applications are considered.