The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum

The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum (HNF) is a politically neutral community group formed in 2017 by residents and supported by local councillors. We came together to enable our neighbourhood to have a greater say in planning decisions that affect our local area and to shape our shared vision for the future.

The HNF attained formal status under the Localism Act of 2011 in July 2017.

Neighbourhood Plans

Neighbourhood Plans give communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and to have a say in the development and growth of their local area.

Communities are able to choose where they want particular buildings to be built and what they should look like, what infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for new buildings they want to see go ahead.

Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to plan for development that meets their community’s needs.

The Hoe Neighbourhood Plan

The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum is finalising the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan for community engagement and submission later in 2024.

The HNF has been consulting local residents since 2017 on what they would like to see in the area. In 2021 the community was consulted on a number of key topics which have been used to develop a draft plan.

We are now finalising the draft neighbourhood plan proposal which will be the subject of a public pre-submission consultation before it is submitted to the local authority for independent examination. The consultation should last at least six weeks.

The pre-submission consultation will include publicising the draft plan to people who live, work or

run businesses in the area. The publicity will include details of the proposed neighbourhood plan, where and when it may be viewed, and how to make comments on the plan and by what date.

Any comments received by the end of the consultation period must be considered conscientiously by the neighbourhood planning body. All representations need to be considered, but it is legitimate for the neighbourhood plan body to take a different view. Indeed, different representations may

demonstrate opposing views. A planning judgement needs to be taken.

Bringing the plan into force

After submission, responsibility for taking the process forward lies with the local planning authority. The local authority will publicise the plan and arrange for the independent examination. This will consider whether the neighbourhood plan meets the basic conditions and other legal requirements.

If successful at the examination stage, with modifications if necessary, then the local authority will arrange for a neighbourhood plan referendum. If there is a majority yes vote, then the neighbourhood plan is made and becomes part of the statutory development plan for the area.

To find out more about Neighbourhood Planning, take a look at this useful animation.