Neighbourhood planning

There are three types of neighbourhood plan 

• Neighbourhood Development Plan – this sets out a shared vision and general planning policies for the future development and use of land in a local area 
• Neighbourhood Development Order – this allows communities to grant planning permission for certain types of development that they want in their local area 
• Community Right to Build Order – this allows communities to grant planning permission to build small-scale housing developments, community facilities or shops that are recognised as providing positive benefits by the community 

Neighbourhood plans and development orders can be prepared by parish/town councils and neighbourhood forums for their local area.  

To make sure these plans are truly led by the community, local people vote to approve them in a referendum. If successful, they will form part of the South Gloucestershire Development Plan.  

Communities are not required to prepare a neighbourhood plan. They are however seen as a good option for communities as they show willingness to get involved positively in managing and influencing growth of an area.  

Neighbourhood plans are treated with the same importance in considering planning applications as any other adopted plan, once they form part of the South Gloucestershire Development Plan. 

A neighbourhood plan should be prepared by town and parish councils or by local community groups, not the council.  

The formal process for preparing a neighbourhood plan is set in the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations below 

• The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 
• The Neighbourhood Planning (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 
• The Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development Management Procedure (Amendment) Regulation 2016 
• The Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2018 

Our statement of community involvement sets out how we help communities prepare a neighbourhood plan.  

A neighbourhood planning protocol sets out our commitment to providing advice and support. This includes 

• a process note which sets out the stages of the process and consultation timescales 
• advice and assistance (includes meetings, methods of engaging and consulting with communities and consultation statements)
• where resources allow, we offer wider proactive awareness raising of neighbourhood planning across South Gloucestershire including training for town and parish councils and communities in unparished areas 
• an example service level agreement that can be used between the community preparing the plan and the council 
• an example neighbourhood plan steering group terms of reference 

Our website includes information on community profiles, flooding, archaeological data, listed buildings and conservation sites. You can also check Historic Environment Records on the Historic England website. 

The links below cover a range of support and resources that we recommend exploring in considering whether a neighbourhood plan is right for your community.  

• Communities and Local Government Neighbourhood Planning 
• Notes on Neighbourhood Planning 
• Locality 
• Royal Town Planning Institute 
• Planning Aid England 
• Eden Project 
• My Community Rights 
• Quick Guide to Neighbourhood Plans 
• Neighbourhood Planning Road Map Guide 
• Forum for Neighbourhood Planning 
• Planning Advisory Service 
• Avon Local Councils Association 

Communities may also wish to engage through the Joint Spatial Plan and the new South Gloucestershire Local Plan, which is being prepared by the council and will help guide development in the district until 2036. 

In accordance with The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), the following communities have submitted an application to designate a Neighbourhood Area under Article 5 of the Regulations. Some of these plans have now completed the neighbourhood plan process and have been ‘made’. This means they carry full weight in planning terms alongside the councils adopted Local Plan. You can view these on the Made Neighbourhood Plans page.

Almondsbury Neighbourhood Plan

On 15 April 2024 in accordance with Neighbourhood Plan 2016 Regulations (as amended), the following area which is consistent with the parish boundary, was formally designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

Tormarton and West Littleton Neighbourhood Plan

On 15 April 2024 in accordance with Neighbourhood Plan 2016 Regulations (as amended), the following area which is consistent with the parish boundary was formally designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

Siston Neighbourhood Plan

On 25 September 2023 in accordance with Neighbourhood Plan 2016 Regulations (as amended), the following area which is consistent with the parish boundary was formally designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

Filton Neighbourhood Plan

On 21 September 2022 in accordance with Neighbourhood Plan 2016 Regulations (as amended), the following area which is consistent with the parish boundary was formally designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

Pilning and Severn Beach Neighbourhood Plan

On 11 January 2021 and in accordance with Neighbourhood Plan 2016 Regulations, the following area which is consistent with the parish boundary was formally designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

Thornbury Neighbourhood Plan 

We have formally made the Thornbury Neighbourhood Plan for use in the planning system as part of the Statutory Development Plan. This is through approval at Full Committee on 18 May 2022 and through the Decision Statement, which you can find on the Made Neighbourhood Plans page.

Previous Stages

The Thornbury Neighbourhood Plan was put to a referendum on 31 March 2022. The plan passed referendum and will now be presented to Full Council on 18 May 2022 to be ‘made’. You can view the plan and see the results of the referendum on our examination webpage.

Thornbury Town Council have submitted the Thornbury Neighbourhood Development Plan to South Gloucestershire Council.

The Thornbury Neighbourhood Development Plan submission documents can be viewed and commented on the consultation page.

On 6 March 2017 and in accordance with Neighbourhood Plan 2016 Regulations, the following area which is consistent with the parish boundary, was formally designated as a Neighbourhood Area.

A public consultation on this Neighbourhood Plan and supporting evidence was coordinated by South Gloucestershire Council between 11 June 2021 and 23 July 2021.

Pucklechurch Neighbourhood Plan 

The Pucklechurch Neighbourhood Plan was originally designated on 27 January 2012 in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulation (as amended).

In May 2023 a change to the boundary of the Pucklechurch Parish came into force as set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 The South Gloucestershire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2023. The change has resulted in part of the original parish boundary now forming a part of the neighbouring Emersons Green Parish.

The Pucklechurch Neighbourhood Plan Group approached us for advice on how to amend the existing Designated Neighbourhood Area to realign with the new boundary for Pucklechurch Parish.

After a 6 week consultation running from 16 August to 27 September 2023 the Pucklechurch Neighbourhood Area Boundary has now been amended to realign with the current Parish Boundary in accordance with in line with existing National Planning Practice Guidance on Neighbourhood Planning paragraph 037 Reference ID 41-037-20180222 as well as Section 5 of the Neighbourhood Planning act 2017 (which amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

Visit the consultation webpage including published responses to the consultation.

The Pucklechurch Neighbourhood Area Boundary replaces all previous versions.

Charfield Neighbourhood Plan Area 

We have formally made the Charfield Neighbourhood Plan for use in the planning system as part of the Statutory Development Plan. This is through approval at Full Committee on 22 September 2021 and through the Decision Statement, which can be found on the Made Neighbourhood Plans page.

Previous stages

In accordance with regulation 6, the consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Area was from 9 December 2015 to 13 January 2016 (5 weeks).

The decision to approve the designation was made at the council’s Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment Committee on 27 January 2016 and in accordance with Regulation 8, we have published a Neighbourhood Planning Decision Notice formally designating the Neighbourhood Area.

The referendum for this plan took place on the 6 May 2021 with a successful vote in favour of having the plan ‘made’. You can see the referendum on our neighbourhood planning referendums page.

The Independent Examiner (IE) provided South Gloucestershire Council, the Charfield Neighbourhood Plan Group (CNPG) and Charfield Parish Council with the final Independent Examiner’s Report on 16 December 2020.

Having reviewed the IE’s report, South Gloucestershire Council in liaison with the CNPG make the following statement in response as required under paragraph 10 of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

South Gloucestershire Council is satisfied that the Charfield Neighbourhood Development Plan, subject to all recommended modifications as detailed in the IE’s Report meets the basic conditions.

As part of the Independent Examiner’s duties they have also considered the area for the referendum. The IE’ Report confirmed that no changes are necessary to the referendum area and as such the referendum area will include the whole parish of Charfield.

The examination webpage includes the Charfield Neighbourhood Development Plan document with the recommended modifications.

Further information is available on the Charfield Neighbourhood Plan website.

Oldbury on Severn Neighbourhood Plan 

We have formally made the Oldbury Neighbourhood Plan for use in the planning system as part of the Statutory Development Plan. This is through approval at Full Committee on 18 May 2022 and through the Decision Statement, which you can find on the Made Neighbourhood Plans page.

Previous Stages

The Oldbury Neighbourhood Plan was put to a referendum on 31 March 2022. The plan passed referendum and will now be presented to Full Council on 18 May 2022 to be ‘made’. You can view the plan and see the results of the referendum on our examination webpage.

The Oldbury-on-Severn Parish Council have submitted the Oldbury Neighbourhood Development Plan to South Gloucestershire Council.

A public consultation on this Neighbourhood Plan and supporting evidence was coordinated by South Gloucestershire Council between 11 June 2021 and 23 July 2021.

The Oldbury Neighbourhood Development Plan submission documents can be viewed and commented on the consultation page.

In accordance with the 2016 amendment, the proposed Neighbourhood Area boundary did not require consultation, as it was consistent with the parish boundary. The area was therefore formally designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 27 October 2016. 

The South Gloucestershire Council Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for Oldbury on Severn (September 2017) report is available within the Evidence base for our Local Plan, see under ‘Flood Risk’. 

A public consultation on this Neighbourhood Plan and supporting evidence was coordinated by South Gloucestershire Council between 11 June 2021 and 23 July 2021.