What is the Markfield Parish Neighbourhood Plan?
Our neighbourhood plan is a new way of enabling our community to determine the future of the area where we live and work.
It is the opportunity for us to take planning into our own hands for our local area.
As a community-led plan for guiding future development, growth and protection within the Parish:
- It can cover the use and development of land taking into account social, economic and environmental issues
- It can be as simple or as complex as needed/wanted but must pass an independent examination
- It must be developed in consultation, be compliant with local and national policies and supported by the community
- Once in place its policies are legally binding and form part of the HBBC development and local plans
Markfield Parish has and will continue to change over time. Previously, we have had limited opportunity to influence change but now by putting in place a Neighbourhood Plan, the entire Parish, young and old alike, has the opportunity to contribute as to how it will evolve by indicating what, where and how development happens i.e. by taking into consideration the needs and aspirations of the community.
What can the Neighbourhood Plan do?
- Decide where and what type of development should happen
- Promote more development than in the Local Plan
- Include policies on design standards
- Identify areas for protection
- Set out improvements or additions to facilities and services
What can the Neighbourhood Plan NOT do?
- Prevent any development taking place/block a specific proposal
- Conflict with existing current statutory policies (e.g. Local Plan)
- Be prepared by a body other than a parish council or without community support
Why do we need contribution from Parishioners ?
Your views, ideas and priorities will form the foundation of the Neighbourhood Plan. By contributing, you can make a real difference to the future shape of Markfield Parish, both for current and future generations.
Who can join in? Who can volunteer?
Anyone can volunteer to help with the neighbourhood development plan.
Why get involved? Why bother?
In the past the relationship between planning and local communities has been reactive. People have made comments about planning documents, policies, applications, etc. whereas with neighbourhood planning the relationship between planning and local communities has become more proactive. The community now gets to decide policies that will in the future be used to judge future planning applications.
How can I get Involved?
If you are interested in finding out how you could become involved with other local people to help develop the Neighbourhood Plan then contact the Steering Group. There are opportunities now, and over the coming months for you to engage and contribute to the Plan so please get involved as this is an important opportunity for everyone connected with Markfield to help shape your community.
There will be various consultation stages throughout the process and the members of the Steering Group may alter and change as more people become interested and involved.
What is a steering group?
The steering group can consist of local residents, local business people, councillors and other stakeholders (i.e. charities and environmental groups).
