What is an NDP?
An NDP addresses important planning, land use and environmental concerns and sets out a vision for the future of the parish.
It will plan for sustainable development, to meet local needs for houses, jobs and infrastructure and will develop policies to maintain the distinctiveness and character of the parish.
The NDP must be aligned with the Local Plan as set out in the Core Strategy of the Forest of Dean District Council but some things such as the nature and location of the housing are matters in which we can have our say.
The NDP can also designate valued green areas to help protect them from development and in general, can produce a much more detailed development policy than the District. That is because it is produced by people who really know the area and have time and opportunity to go into the detail. Previous local plans for towns and villages have been produced all over the country but before 2011, when the Localism Act came into being, they did not have any statutory power.
What areas does the Newent Parish NDP cover?
Our civil parish includes Clifford’s Mesne, Boulsdon, The Scarr, Botloe’s Green, Malswick, Anthony’s Cross, Cugley and Judges Lane as well as the historic market town of Newent. Newent Town Council is the tier of local government responsible for the Parish of Newent.
How does the steering group find out what people want?
One of the most important features in the making of an NDP, is extensive public engagement. The area was officially designated in August 2018 after a week’s consultation in July established that the people who live and work here were in favour of making one. Since then we have held a well-attended Public Consultation in October 2019 with widely available questionnaires to be returned in the weeks following. We had also started a Business and Employment Survey which was paused when Covid 19 caused lockdown. We are now starting up again with questionnaires that can be accessed online. (See our News Page for the latest details of these.)
Where does the funding come from to support the NDP?
A very small start-up grant was awarded initially by the Town Council and a small annual budget is available for a few items that are not covered by the main government funding. This is awarded by Locality, the government’s arm for promoting community-led planning. Grants of up to £10K are available for an NDP like ours over the course of its preparation. We were awarded the first tranche in September 2019.
Who is working on the Newent NDP?
The Steering Group consists of volunteers assisted by a professional adviser, funded by the FODDC. We have now engaged a Planning Consultant to help write our policies. Some members are stakeholders or individual members of the community and others are town councillors. Every member of Newent Town Council is considered to be a member, according to our Standing Orders. You can find out who else is a member of the Steering Group below.
STEERING GROUP MEMBERS
Current Members, in addition to all members of Newent Town Council
Lynn Ashton
Christine Howley (Finance)
Gill Moseley (Cllr/Chair)
Andy Offord
Heather Roberts
Emma Salisbury
Helen Selwood
Clare Stone (Cllr/Secretary)
Advisers
Lee Searles (Professional Planning Consultant)
Barbara Pond (GRCC – Senior Adviser 2020-23)
Liane James (GRCC 2020 – 2023)
Kate Baugh (GRCC 2018 -2020)
What does an NDP look like?
All completed NDPs are published online and some Steering Groups opt to produce some hard copies as well. You can view examples of ‘made’ NDPs of Longhope and Stonehouse, here.
Several others have been completed in the Forest of Dean, including Coleford, Lydney, Berry Hill and most recently, Mitcheldean. Those of Dymock and Forest Edge (Pillowell, etc.) are also in production like ours.
Interested in becoming one of the NDP Steering Group? You’re more than welcome to find out more about the group here, or get in touch via the Contact Us form for more details.