Read the draft Neighbourhood Plan approved by the Parish Council

This is the version of the proposed NP which the PC approved for submission to WODC at their meeting in September. Once other documents required to be submitted with it have been completed ie the Consultation Statement and the Basic Conditions Statement the whole Plan will be submitted for Regulation 16 approval.

1 Read the draft Neighbourhood Plan, click this link

2 What is a Neighbourhood plan?

Neighbourhood planning is a way for communities to have a say about the future of where they live and work. It gives them the power to produce a plan with real legal weight, that regulates development in their local area. What is the Plan based on? Two years ago, we surveyed village residents, asking what you like (and don’t like) about living here, and what you would like to see improved. Some 612 residents (aged 16+) gave us their opinions about everything from the countryside to road safety; village facilities to housing. A Housing Needs Assessment analysed housing availability and use in the village based on the survey and data from other local and central government sources. Village Character and Landscape Assessments were commissioned from external technical experts. This research was used to draft the Plan in a way that helps ensure future village development is in line with your opinions.

What is in the Plan?

It is a thorough document, over 100 pages long, covering many aspects of life in Stonesfield. Importantly, and necessarily, it will become a document that the Parish and District Councils must have regard to when considering local planning applications. The draft Neighbourhood Plan aims to enhance the community of Stonesfield and encourage economic activity, while ensuring housing is sustainable and meets the needs of the village. It seeks to enhance and ensure accessibility for all ages to community facilities, and of course to protect our beautiful countryside, and village character. It also recognises the need to address climate change at a local level, where we can. To achieve this, the plan includes twenty-nine policies, focusing on housing and building design, landscape and environment, transport and road safety, economy and amenities and historic character. There are also seven ‘aspirations’, which reflect some of the areas of improvement you highlighted in the survey. These cannot be covered directly by policies but could be addressed by one or more community action groups – similar to the Save the White Horse team. And the Plan has been written to ensure that ideas like these, that are aimed at specific benefits for the village, can still thrive. Taken together, the Plan’s aims, objectives, policies, and aspirations form a framework for Stonesfield over the next 5 years.

What else is there?

 In addition to the draft Neighbourhood Plan, we have also shared the research and supporting documents – click on links below:

• Housing Needs Assessment
• Parish Landscape Assessment
• Local Green Spaces
• Village Character Assessment
• Village Survey Results

Stonesfield Parish Council would like to take this opportunity to express its gratitude to the Stonesfield Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, and all of the additional volunteers, for the huge amount of work that has gone into producing the Stonesfield Neighbourhood Plan over the past three years. You have all done a great service to the community.