Parish Information
Neighbourhood Plan
Presenting the council's neighbourhood plan status and documents.
What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
Purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan
In April 2012, the Localism Act 2011 amended the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 introducing new rights and powers to allow local communities to shape new development in their community by preparing a Neighbourhood Plan. Ravenstone Parish Council (RPC) decided to produce a Neighbourhood Plan at its regular monthly meeting on the 9th March 2017 following a presentation from Milton Keynes Council.
The Neighbourhood Plan will shape the future growth of the village setting out design criteria for new development, necessary to protect the distinctive character of Ravenstone. It will also protect important spaces from development and will ensure that the necessary infrastructure can be delivered to support the future needs of the village.
Very importantly, this is an opportunity for the members of the community to influence the character of the village, identifying areas that should be protected, elements that could be improved and the types of development that they may want to see.
Basic Requirements of the Neighbourhood Plan
Whilst there is considerable scope for the local community to decide the content of the Neighbourhood Plan and the policies therein, the plan must meet basic conditions.
The Basic Requirements include:
- Have appropriate regard to national planning policy.
- Promote the principles of sustainable development.
- Be in general conformity with the Development Plan policies for the local area.
- Be compatible with EU obligations, for example environmental and human rights legislation.
The Submitting Body
This Neighbourhood Plan is submitted by Ravenstone Parish Council, which is a qualifying body as defined by the Localism Act 2011.
Steering Group
The Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared by the Steering Group, with representatives from the Parish Council the community.
The members are:
- Robin Cooper – Chair of Steering Group
- Helen Anderson – Parish Councillor
- Les Postawa – Parish Councillor
- Glynis Bailey
- Jim Cleland
- Bob Hill
- Stuart Howkins
- Jane Humphreys
- Suzanne Shirley
The Terms of Reference for the Steering Group can be found by clicking on the link below or in “NP Documents”.
Ravenstone Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Terms of Reference
Meetings
A Steering Group Meeting was held on Thursday 28th March 2019 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. The minutes can be viewed by clicking on the link:
Steering Group Minutes 28th March 2019
The minutes of all Steering Group meetings can be found in “NP Documents”.
What stage are we at?
At its meeting on 19th June 2019, Milton Keynes Council ‘made’ the Ravenstone Neighbourhood Plan part of its Development Plan.
This followed the successful Referendum held on Thursday 2nd May 2019 with the question “Do you want Milton Keynes Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for the Ravenstone Area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”
The result was declared by the Counting Officer on Friday 3rd May 2019:
Yes: 124
No: 9
There was a high turnout of 68.56%.
The official declaration document can be found by clicking on the link:
Referendum Result
Preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan commenced in May 2017 and has involved extensive consultation and engagement with residents, land owners and interested parties. The Consultation Statement details each stage of consultation, tabling responses received and the actions taken by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group (NPSG) to shape the Neighbourhood Plan. It includes open day exhibitions, the questionnaire survey (and results) and meetings with landowners and interested parties.
A draft Neighbourhood Plan was launched on the 21st April 2018 which started the Regulation 14 pre-submission six week consultation period which ended on the 6th June 2018. Each household, statutory consultee and major landowner received a copy of the draft Plan together with a comments / feedback form with instructions for its completion. Comments received from residents, statutory consultees and landowners were carefully considered by the Steering Group and, where necessary, responses prepared for inclusion in the Consultation Statement. As a result a number of changes and additions were made to the draft Plan which became the version for submission to Milton Keynes Council on 20th July 2018.
The Plan was published by Milton Keynes Council on the 6th August 2018 and another period of consultation ran until the 1st October 2018. Further amendments were made to the draft Plan which was then accepted by Milton Keynes Council for independent Examination. The Examiner was appointed in October 2018 and began work in December 2018. The Examiner’s final Report was issued on the 30th January 2019. This was accepted by Milton Keynes Council and announced in its Decision Document on the 4th March 2019.
Further information can be found by clicking on the link below:
https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/ravenstone-neighbourhood-plan
Milton Keynes Council arranged for a Referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan for Thursday 2nd May 2019.
Neighbourhood Plan
The Neighbourhood Plan together with the Consultation Statement, Basic Conditions Statement and Supplementary Evidence Base which support the Plan can be found by clicking the links below or in “NP Documents”. The earlier Draft Plan and a version showing tracked changes between the Draft and submitted Plans can also be found in “NP Documents”.
Ravenstone NP Referendum Version
Consultation Statement
Basic Conditions Statement
Supplementary Evidence Base
Consultation Process
At the start of the process, the Steering Group recognised the importance of consultation to inform the policies and proposals of the Ravenstone Neighbourhood Plan and has used a variety of methods to engage the community including:
- Flyers providing information and announcing key events.
- Open Day Exhibitions with the opportunity to submit comments and engage with the Steering Group.
- A Questionnaire Survey to ensure the Neighbourhood Plan is fully aligned with the wishes of the community and that any future development is shaped by the residents.\
- Meetings with principal landowners.
- Meetings with interested parties – The Parochial Church Council, The Chapman’s Education Foundation (represented by the Village Hall Committee), Ravenstone Hospital Trust (who manage the Almshouses).
A comprehensive Consultation Statement has been prepared as a separate document which supports the Neighbourhood Plan chronologically detailing each stage of consultation, tabling responses received and the actions taken by the Steering Group to shape the Neighbourhood Plan prior to submission. The Consultation Statement can be found by clicking the link below or in “NP Documents”.
Consultation Statement
Having submitted the Neighbourhood Plan, Milton Keynes Council had to publish the Plan for a further period of consultation (6th August to 1st October). The Plan and eight comments received will be considered by an independent planning Examiner who was appointed on the 18th October and began work in December. The Examiner’s final report was issued on the 30th January 2019.
External Links
The following links maybe useful in understanding the neighbourhood planning process and how the Parish Plan will integrate with Milton Keynes Council’s Plan:MK.
Government Neighbourhood Planning Website
Plan:MK
https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/neighbourhood-planning
NP Documents
Please click on the links below to view the documents:
Referendum Result
Consultation Summary Note
Ravenstone Neighbourhood Plan Referendum Version
Consultation Statement
The Consultation Statement includes Annexes which you can see showing:
- List of Statutory Consultees
- Initial Consultation Flyer
- Open Day Exhibition Display Boards
- Themed Comments from ‘Post-it’ Notes
- Flyer published in Gate News (Group of Villages News Letter)
- Questionnaire Survey
- Thank You Flyer
- Questionnaire Analysis
- Draft Neighbourhood Plan (shown separately here)
- Flyer Announcing Draft Neighbourhood Plan
- Open Day Exhibition Display Boards
Basic Conditions Statement
Ravenstone NP Milton Keynes Examination final Report
Neighbbourhood Planning Officer Decision on Examiners Report
Supplementary Evidence Base
Draft Neighbourhood Plan
Steering Group
Ravenstone Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Terms of Reference
Steering Group Minutes 28th March 2019
Steering Group Minutes 9th January 2019
Steering Group Minutes 21st November 2018
Steering Group Minutes 11th July 2018
Steering Group Minutes 4th July 2018
Steering Group Minutes 20th June 2018
Steering Group Minutes 13th June 2018
Steering Group Minutes 23rd May 2018
Steering Group Minutes 2nd May 2018
Steering Group Minutes 18th April 2018
Steering Group Minutes 11th April 2018
Steering Group Minutes 21st March 2018
Steering Group Minutes 28th February 2018
Steering Group Minutes 21st February 2018
Steering Group Minutes 13th February 2018
Steering Group Minutes 31st January 2018
Steering Group Minutes 17th January 2018
Steering Group Minutes 29th November 2017
Steering Group Minutes 15th November 2017
Steering Group Minutes 8th November 2017
Steering Group Minutes 18th October 2017
Steering Group Minutes 28th September 2017
Steering Group Minutes 20th September 2017
Steering Group Minutes 6th September 2017
Steering Group Minutes 22nd August 2017
Steering Group Minutes 2nd August 2017
Steering Group Minutes 26th July 2017
Steering Group Minutes 19th July 2017
Steering Group Minutes 12th July 2017
Steering Group Minutes 5th July 2017
Steering Group Minutes 27th June 2017
Steering Group Minutes 14th June 2017
Steering Group Minutes 6th June 2017
Steering Group Minutes 24th May 2017
Steering Group Minutes 3rd May 2017