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Neighbourhood planning - Overview

Neighbourhood planning is a way local people can shape development of the communities in which they live.

The Localism Act 2011 reformed the planning system and introduced a new tier of statutory plans to be prepared at the neighbourhood level by parish councils or town councils (where they exist) or in other areas, community members acting together as a neighbourhood forum.

View the Government's 'plain English' guide to the Localism Act (PDF) for more information.

It is important that you talk to us if you are thinking of preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan, as they form a legal part of planning policy and must follow a formal process.

View the Council's Neighbourhood Plans Guidance (PDF) or read our Neighbourhood planning frequently asked questions.

Consultations on neighbourhood plans

There are currently no consultations.

Neighbourhood Area designations

The first stage in the neighbourhood planning process is the designation of a Neighbourhood Area. The proposed Neighbourhood Area will need to be formally approved by Bedford Borough Council.

Formal consultation will take place and any representations received will be considered before a final decision is made.

There are currently no neighbourhood area designations under consultation.

To submit an application for a Neighbourhood Area, please contact planningpolicy@bedford.gov.uk.

The Neighbourhood Areas that have been designated are shown on the map of Neighbourhood Areas (PDF).

Neighbourhood plans under preparation

Following the designation of a Neighbourhood Area, the Qualifying Body (in most cases this is the Parish Council) can prepare their Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Click on each name in the table to go to the relevant website. 

NameNeighbourhood Area designationPre-submission consultationSubmission consultationExaminationReferendumDate made
Brickhill8 September 2016     
Bletsoe1 July 201315 September - 31 October 201827 November - 19 January 202022 January 2020 to 11 March 20206 May 20219 June 2021
Bromham18 August 201425 February – 8 April 201927 January 2020 - 9 March 202018 March 2020 - 5 June 20206 May 20219 June 2021
Cardington8 June 2016     
Carlton and Chellington17 March 201625 May – 6 July 201812 June - 25 July 201912 August - 15 October 201930 January 20204 March 2020
Clapham11 July 2013

7 June - 20 July 2019

1 February to 14 March 2021

8 October - 21 November 20218 December 2021 - 9 March 20229 June 20224 July 2022
Colmworth20 February 2015     
Cople30 July 2015     
Cotton End21 August 201910 October - 21 November 2022    
Dean and Shelton30 July 2015     
Felmersham and Radwell3 November 201518 January to 28 February 202113 October - 25 November 20218 December 2021 - 18 March 202223 June 20224 July 2022
Great Barford23 April 201514 December 2020 - 1 February 20211 April - 16 May 25 May 2021 - 24 September 202116 December 202119 January 2022
Great Denham7 January 201415 August to 14 October 202210 January - 22 February 20239 March - 2 May 20233 August 202313 September 2023
Harrold26 July 201618 September - 30 October 20201 March - 6 May 202117 May - 1 September 202118 November 20215 January 2022
Milton Ernest1 July 20131 November – 13 December 202026 February - 11 April 202130 April 2021 - 28 July 20214 November 202124 November 2021
Oakley14 November 201319 September – 31 October 201812 June - 25 July 201915 August - 12 November 201927 February 202023 March 2020
Odell6 September 2019 7 September - 22 October 202124 January - 8 March 202221 March 2022 - 11 May 202228 July 202212 September 2022
Pavenham20 June 2014     
Pertenhall and Swineshead11 April 2017     
Ravensden23 October 201919 February – 4 April 20221 July – 14 August 20221 September 2022 – 21 November23 February 202316 March 2023
Renhold7 September 2020      
Riseley14 March 201821 November 2022 – 16 January 20232 June – 16 July 202324 July – 31 October 2023 15 February 20242 April 2024
Roxton5 November 2014     
Sharnbrook27 September 201719 August – 23 October 202017 February - 26 April 2021From 10 May – 21 July 202121 October 202124 November 2021
Shortstown18 September 2023     
Stagsden11 September 2015     
Staploe7 September 2020     
Stevington28 November 2013

23 April – 10 July 2019

9 December 2019 – 27 January 2020

10 July - 24 August 202026 August – 1 October 20206 May 20219 June 2021
Stewartby26 November 2013     
Thurleigh1 July 20138 June – 20 July 20191 May - 15 June 2020 22 June – 7 August 20206 May 20219 June 2021
Turvey19 April 20176 November 2019 – 19 January 202010 July - 24 August 202016 December 2020 – 22 April 202115 July 20211 September 2021 
Wilden14 November 2013     
Willington25 November 201523 October – 9 December 2019 31 March - 16 May 2021 25 May – 6 October 202120 January 20222 March 2022
Wilshamstead22 February 20171 April – 31 May 20212 March – 14 April 20224 May – 18 August 202224 November 20224 January 2023
Wootton9 June 201525 September – 6 November 20209 July - 23 August 20212 September –- 9 November 202117 February 20222 March 2022
Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden12 November 2014     

Council guidance

Bedford Borough Council has produced detailed guidance on how we will work with parish councils and neighbourhood forums undertaking neighbourhood planning.

We have a service level agreement (SLA) with Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) to assist with neighbourhood planning. If you require advice please contact planningpolicy@bedford.gov.uk in the first instance.

In order to use maps produced by Bedford Borough Council in any publications, a public sector mapping agreement (PSMA) must be signed to allow sharing of maps that have been produced. Further information is available from Ordnance Survey.

We can't provide bespoke maps for the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Groups, but we can provide a Parish map. There are a number of private companies that can produce and print maps for your documents.

Further details the about use of Ordnance Survey based information is available in the OS mapping briefing note (PDF).

Guidance

  • Neighbourhood Planning Roadmap Guide – Locality has produced a comprehensive guide to neighbourhood planning and the document is a useful introduction to the process.
  • Funding – The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have made funding available to provide support for preparing a Neighbourhood Plan and this is administered by Locality. For groups writing a neighbourhood plan or preparing a neighbourhood development order up to £8,000 will be available. A further £6,000 is available for more complex issues, however this is subject to meeting further criteria. Full details of how to apply. The cost of the examination and referendum will be met by Bedford Borough Council.
  • Planning Aid has a lot of useful information on its website including guidance notes, case studies and videos. Guidance notes are available here: neighbourhoodplanning.org/resources
  • Locality has produced a guidance note for carrying out housing needs assessments for neighbourhood plans. Use the guide How to undertake a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA).
  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - Government advice and guidance on neighbourhood planning can be found on the Planning Portal website.
  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government produces a bulletin on national progress in neighbourhood planning. Follow the link to view the bulletins.
  • Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012
  • Green Infrastructure Plans – Green infrastructure is an important part of development and to provide evidence in the Neighbourhood Plan, the qualifying body may choose to commission a Green Infrastructure Plan. Further details on what this will involve is outlined Green Infrastructure Plan briefing note (PDF).
  • Historic Environment – the historic environment is one theme that a Neighbourhood Plan may cover. Further information is available in this briefing note produced by the Historic Environment Team at Bedford Borough.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

The Community Infrastructure Levy was introduced in April 2013. If there is an adopted Neighbourhood Development Plan, or Neighbourhood Development Order, this will have implications for the amount of funding for local infrastructure priorities that is passed to the parish councils (or to be used by the council for local infrastructure priorities in unparished areas) from developments granted planning permission.

The amount of funding is currently 25% of the CIL received from developments. Further information is available here.

Infrastructure issues

Infrastructure should be considered as part of a Neighbourhood Plan, particularly when development sites are to be included as allocations. The qualifying body should consider what additional infrastructure may be needed to cater for future development and how this may be delivered. It would also be useful to consider what the likely impacts on proposed site allocations would be on the existing services. Contact should be made in at an early stage of the plan process with the infrastructure providers.

Contact details

For further information, please contact planningpolicy@bedford.gov.uk