Neighbourhood Planning: Expression of Interest

Locality is delivering the programme in association with a number of specialist sub-contractors including AECOM.

As you complete this Expression of Interest (EoI) there is information that you will need to provide us with. Before beginning this application process please read our Guidance Notes thoroughly.


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**IMPORTANT NOTICE OF EARLIER APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR BOTH TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND GRANT THIS FINANCIAL YEAR (2024/2025)**


The continuing high demand for neighbourhood planning support means that we expect to have fully allocated support funding by the start of February 2025. Accordingly:

 

Applications for grant and technical support for the 2024/2025 financial year can be submitted until 5pm on 31st January 2025. Any applications received after this time will not be considered. We will also not be able to consider incomplete applications, so please read our guidance notes carefully.


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Please Click "Next Page" to continue.

The first few questions on this page will establish whether you are eligible to apply for the Neighbourhood Planning Programme.


**This also includes updating or modifying a made NDP. *** A Neighbourhood Development Order grants planning permission for the development you want to see in your area. The permission can be for a new building on a specific site (e.g. community facilities), or for alterations across your area (e.g. encouraging housing through giving permission to change the upper floors of shops to flats). You can find out further information on these here.

Sorry, your group is not eligible for neighbourhood planning support for the following reason:


You are not seeking to use the neighbourhood planning powers contained in the Localism Act.


You may not proceed with this application form. Please note, if you are struggling to work out the best way to proceed we are happy to provide advice, please click here to get in touch.


Sorry, your group is not eligible for neighbourhood planning support for the following reason: 


Your group is not based in England.


You may not proceed with this application form. Please note, if you are struggling to work out the best way to proceed we are happy to provide advice, please click here to get in touch.


Sorry, your group is not eligible for neighbourhood planning support for the following reason: 


Your group is not a relevant body to prepare a NDP.


You may not proceed with this application form. Please note, if you are struggling to work out the best way to proceed we are happy to provide advice, please click here to get in touch.




Sorry, your group is not eligible for neighbourhood planning support for the following reason: 


You received a grant during the previous (2015-2018) or current (2018-2025) Neighbourhood Planning programme, but have not yet completed your end-of-grant reporting. Please reapply once you have submitted the end-of-grant reporting for the most recent grant you have received.


You may not proceed with this application form. Please note, if you are struggling to work out the best way to proceed we are happy to provide advice, please click here to get in touch.


Sorry, your group is not eligible for neighbourhood planning support for the following reason: 


You are not authorised to make the application on behalf of the neighbourhood planning group wishing to apply.


You may not proceed with this application form. Please note, if you are struggling to work out the best way to proceed we are happy to provide advice, please click here to get in touch.

Congratulations, you are eligible to apply for the Neighbourhood Planning Programme. Please click "Next" and complete your contact details and some additional information in order to receive an application form.

Expression of Interest Form

Please check your spelling carefully, as any misspelt names may invalidate your application.

About your organisation


If you are a Parish or Town Council you have to lead on the plan so therefore please name that as the organisation rather than using the name of your area. Ie Locality Parish Council rather than Locality neighbourhood plan.

Please ensure you add the full formal name of your organisation, ie do not use acronyms or "&".
If you have previously applied to us for support please ensure you use the exact same organisation name.







Please note that if you are in an area with a Parish or Town Council, you cannot be a neighbourhood forum.

Contact Details

Please provide details for the main point of contact for completing the application form and click next.





Please ensure your email address is correct. The application form will be sent to this email.

If we need to contact you about your Expression of Interest or subsequent application assessment, we will use this number or email the email address provided.

Without spaces between numbers.

This includes groups seeking to allocate affordable housing for sale, or alternatively, groups at an early stage who are not yet sure if they are allocating sites for housing, but are considering bringing forward affordable housing for sale and are investigating the need by undertaking Housing Needs Assessments and other relevant studies.

Neighbourhood plans can identify and allocate sites for new development. Carrying out a site assessment will provide the evidence that the sites selected for allocation are the most appropriate – that they are in the most sustainable location, they are in conformity with the strategic policies of the LPA's Local Plan and that there is a good prospect that they will be developed. Please see the Site Assessment Toolkit for further information.







Design codes are a set of illustrated design requirements that provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area.


For further information on fund-holders, please consult our Guidance Notes




Please note: If you select "Yes" here, the application form you receive will be for the Bespoke high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support only. If you also want to apply for grant and/or technical support then you must complete a separate Expression of Interest (EOI) form and a separate application form. This is because you cannot apply for the high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support in the same application as for grant and/or technical support, as the application form for high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support includes questions specifically related to your high street and social infrastructure proposals.



Please note, if you select "Yes" here, when your application form is generated, the only technical support package you will be able to select will be NDO Facilitation. If you are not applying for this package now, please select "No".

Unfortunately you can't apply for both the Bespoke high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support and the Bespoke NDO Facilitation package in the same EoI (and corresponding application form). Please change the selection to "No" for either the question "Are you applying for Bespoke high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support?" or "Are you applying for the bespoke NDO facilitation support package and follow up grant?". 


Also, please bear in mind that the Bespoke high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support applications are time sensitive and will be closed to submissions from 5pm on 17 May. If you are applying for both Bespoke high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support and the NDO Support, it would be recommended to complete your Bespoke high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support application first.




Business NDPs:
Most neighbourhood areas will not be a designated business area even if they have a substantial element of commercial activity. This is because the test to be designated as a business neighbourhood area is a high one. Only if an area is wholly or predominantly used for business would it be designated as a business neighbourhood area. Examples could include industrial estates, business parks or town centres. The decision will rest with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) when they determine the neighbourhood area application and will be very dependent on the precise nature of the particular neighbourhood. The big impact of the designation is that, once the Plan or Order has passed examination it will be tested by not one, but two referendums, one for residents and one for businesses operating in the area. If both referendums agree the decision is binding on the LPA. If the two referendums return a different decision, it will then be for the LPA to decide whether they should bring the Plan or Order into legal force.

Sorry, unfortunately based on the evidence you have provided, you are not eligible for Technical Support. Please do not proceed to submitting this Expression of Interest form. 


Please refer to the Technical Support section of our website (here) for further information.

Unfortunately, you may not proceed with this form until you have changed the selection to "No" for either the question "Are you applying for Bespoke high streets regeneration and social infrastructure support?" or "Are you applying for the bespoke NDO facilitation support package and follow up grant?". 


Please press "back" and change your selection to "No" for one of these questions and complete a separate EoI for the other support package if you require it.


The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) shows us levels of deprivation across England. Geographical areas called ‘Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) are ranked and scored across a whole range of poverty indicators.

If 30% or more of the land or population of your Neighbourhood Area is in the 20% or 10% most deprived areas in the country, your area is considered to have a high level of deprivation.

To find the level of deprivation in your area, please click here and use the 2019 data.

To find where you live, enter your postcode into ‘Select Location’ box in the top right-hand corner by clicking the Pin icon. This will take you to your LSOA and give you the percentage band this falls in, in terms of levels of deprivation.

To assess whether your Neighbourhood Area has high levels of deprivation, you will need to find the deprivation percentage band for each LSOA that falls in your area. You can do this by can entering other postcodes from your Neighbourhood Area or clicking on neighbouring LSOAs on the map.

If 30% or more of the land or population of your Neighbourhood Area is in the 20% or 10% most deprived areas, you will need to answer ‘yes’ to this question.

If less than 30% of your Neighbourhood Area is in the 20% or 10% most deprived areas, please answer ‘no’ to this question.

Please make a note of your percentage band, as you will be asked for this again in the application form.

If you don't know the population of your area you can either speak to your LPA or find out further information here.

e.g. 2011 Census, updated midyear estimates etc. Please give the source.

A “Made” NDP is one that has passed its referendum and has been brought into legal force by the LPA.

This is the date the LPA 'brought it into force'.



Please note: As stated at the start of this EoI, the application process has changed, and you will no longer receive your application form overnight. When you click "Submit", you will proceed directly to the application form. You can complete the form straight away, or you can return to it at a later stage. If you would like to return to it at a later stage, please save the form prior to closing it.


To complete your Expression of Interest and proceed with your application, please click 'Submit'. Please do not click this more than once whilst the page is loading. 


If you have any problems, please visit https://neighbourhoodplanning.org/advice/.


Thank you for your interest in the Neighbourhood Planning programme.