Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Planning and Development

Purpose of report

Heyford Park Parish Council has submitted an application for the designation of the whole of their parish as a Neighbourhood Area, in order to prepare a neighbourhood development plan. The Council must determine the application.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To designate the Parish of Heyford Park as a Neighbourhood Area.

1.2         To determine that the Neighbourhood Area should not be designated as a business area under Section 61(H) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

1.3         To amend the existing designated Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Area boundary to exclude Heyford Park parish, as shown in Appendix 4 to this report.

Resolved

(1)            That the Parish of Heyford Park be designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

(2)            That it be determined that the Neighbourhood Area should not be designated as a business area under Section 61(H) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

(3)            That the existing designated Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Area boundary be amended to exclude Heyford Park parish, as shown in the map in the Annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book).

The Assistant Director Planning and Development submitted a report to consider the application for the Designation of a Neighbourhood Area for the Parish of Heyford Park.

Heyford Park Parish Council had submitted an application for the designation of the whole of their parish as a Neighbourhood Area, in order to prepare a neighbourhood development plan. The Council must determine the application.

Parish Councillor Tim Coggins, Chair of Heyford Parish Council, addressed Executive.

Resolved

(1)            That the Parish of Heyford Park be designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

(2)            That it be determined that the Neighbourhood Area should not be designated as a business area under Section 61(H) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

(3)            That the existing designated Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Area boundary be amended to exclude Heyford Park parish, as shown in the map in the Annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book).

Reasons

The area application for the designation of a Neighbourhood Area for the parish of Heyford Park has been made in accordance with Neighbourhood Planning Regulations and section 61G of the Town and Country Planning Act (as amended). As such a designation would result in the need to amend the boundary of an existing designated neighbourhood area, namely Mid Cherwell, the Council has had to consider the desirability of making such an amendment. After reviewing all the representations received, and acknowledging that the Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan cannot proceed without the consent of Heyford Park PC, it is considered desirable to amend the Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood area boundary by removing Heyford Park parish from it. The creation of two separate neighbourhood areas will allow both communities to progress neighbourhood plans.

Alternative options

There are no grounds to refuse the application. The application has been made in accordance with the regulations and subject to consultation. Moreover, such a refusal will prevent the preparation of neighbourhood plans for the parish and the wider Mid Cherwell area.