New neighbourhood planning forums announced

The council is to designate two groups in Lockleaze and Redcliffe as Neighbourhood Planning Forums, following a six week consultation. Another in Bedminster (Myrtle Triangle) is preparing for designation, pending some outstanding work. This follows a year of commitment from the groups in reviewing the future of their areas and in looking at the key development issues they want to address.

From October 2012, all Bristol people can seek to plan for future development in their neighbourhood by asking for their area to be designated as a Neighbourhood Planning Area and applying to become a Neighbourhood Planning Forum.

In the meantime, groups in three pilot areas - Lockleaze, Bedminster and Redcliffe Way - have been working on Neighbourhood Development Plans for their areas in a trial capacity.For two of them, Lockleaze and Redcliffe, their status is now official. Designation decision on the third, Myrtle Triangle in Bedminster, will follow pending some outstanding work.

New Neighbourhood Planning Areas put forward in the October round of bidding could have designated Neighbourhood Planning Forums by May 2013.

Neighbourhood Planning is about making sure a community has the homes, job opportunities, leisure and community facilities it needs. The council offers professional advice and support.

The Localism Act has given local communities the potential for more power to determine the future of their own neighbourhood - to become an officially designated Neighbourhood Planning Area with a local forum to oversee the development of a Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Neighbourhood Planning Areas are tools for facilitating the right balance of development for an area. They cannot be used to stop development.

You can find out more about defining a Neighbourhood Planning Area and setting up a Neighbourhood Planning Forum at: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/neighbourhood-planning-forums

Councillor Anthony Negus, Cabinet Member for Housing, Property Services and Regeneration, said: “We have our first Neighbourhood Planning Forums and we are delighted to welcome them. Local people are learning fast how to turn aspirations into realities. The people who really care about the neighbourhood are right at the centre of decision-making, learning what can be achieved and getting it done. Local people who want the best for their area are the best-placed to fight for the right development in the right place. Skilling them up to achieve this with the right advice and support is a valuable role for the council."