Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan

Growing Together - a Neighbourhood Forum for Blackthorn, Cherry Lodge, Goldings, Lings, Lumbertubs and Overstone Lodge

Making the Neighbourhood Plan

The Growing Together Neighbourhood Forum have prepared a Neighbourhood Plan for the Growing Together Neighbourhood Area. The Plan, which was prepared in full consultation with the local community, sets out policies that will shape future development in the area.

At full Council on 3 April 2017 Northampton Borough Council made the Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan. It now forms part of the Northampton Development Plan, meaning that it is a material consideration when deciding planning applications.

The Decision Statement and the Neighbourhood Plan (Made Version 2017) 2016 – 2029 can be viewed and downloaded by following the links below.

You can view paper copies of the documents at:

  • Blackthorn Children’s Centre
    9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday
    9am to 4:30pm Friday
  • Blackthorn Good Neighbours Nursery
    8:15am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday
  • Brookside Community Hub
    9am to 12 noon Monday to Thursday (term-time)
    10am to 12 noon Monday to Thursday (school holidays)
  • One Stop Shop at the Guildhall
    9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
  • Northampton Central Library
  • Weston Favell Library
    (check opening times for libraries on the Northamptonshire County Council website)
     
  • Referendum of the Neighbourhood Plan 2017

    A referendum for the Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 23 February 2017. In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 the question asked was:

    “Do you want Northampton Borough Council to use the neighbourhood plan for the Growing Together neighbourhood area (namely: Blackthorn, Cherry Lodge, Goldings, Lings, Lumbertubs and Overstone Lodge) to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

    The Regulations state that if the majority of those who voted (more than 50%) are in favour of the Plan then it must be made (brought into legal effect) by the local planning authority. 901 residents voted Yes (91.47% of those voting) and 80 voted No (8.12% of those voting). Four ballot papers were rejected. Turnout was 13%.

    In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 the Council published an Information Statement and the specified documents to support the referendum, details of these can be found with the key documents below.
     
  • Publication of the Examiner’s Report and a Decision Statement on the Growing Together Plan Proposal (Reg 18 Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012)

    The independent Examiner published a report in November 2016 which recommended that, once modified to meet all relevant legal requirements, the Plan should proceed to referendum. The Plan was modified to take on board all the Examiner’s recommendations and Northampton Borough Council confirmed on 7 December 2017 that the Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, met the basic conditions and other legal requirements.

    Further details can be found through the Growing Together Examiner Report and NBC Decision Statement and in the key documents below
     
  • Publicising the Growing Together Plan Proposal (Reg 16 Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012) from 28 July to 22 September 2016
    Northampton Borough Council publicised the Growing Together Plan Proposal before submitting it to independent examination.
     
  • Publication of the Pre-submission Neighbourhood Plan (Reg 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012) from 15 June to 27 July 2015
    The Growing Together Neighbourhood Forum published a Pre-submission (draft) Neighbourhood Plan for a six week consultation.
     
  • Strategic Environmental Assessment & Habitats Regulation Assessment Screening Report June 2015
    Northampton Borough Council undertook an assessment of the Pre-submission Neighbourhood Plan and prepared a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) & Habitats Regulation Assessment Screening Report (HRA) (June 2015). The Screening Report concluded that the emerging Neighbourhood Plan does not require a full SEA or HRA. The Council consulted technical stakeholders on the findings of the report between 15 June and 27 July 2015.
     
  • Growing Together Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum
    On 11 September 2013, the designation for the Growing Together Neighbourhood Forum and for the Growing Together Neighbourhood Area was granted by Northampton Borough Council's Cabinet.
  • In May 2013, Growing Together applied to become a Neighbourhood Forum, and applied to designate the Blackthorn, Cherry Lodge, Goldings, Lings, Lumbertubs and Overstone Lodge neighbourhoods as a single Neighbourhood Area. Northampton Borough Council consulted on the application for six weeks.
  • In 2012, the Blackthorn and Goldings estates were selected by the Department for Local Communities and Government (DCLG) as part of the national 'Front-runners' Neighbourhood Plan project. The Neighbourhood Plan sits alongside the 'The Big Local Trust' project, currently being undertaken to regenerate the area and help the community to achieve its aims.

Key documents

Making the Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan

Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan Referendum

The specified documents

Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan Examination

Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan Proposal

Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan: Evidence Base

Strategic Environmental Assessment & Habitats Regulation Assessment

Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan Pre-submission (Regulation 14)

Growing Together Neighbourhood Forum and Area

How to find out more

To find out more about the Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan or to volunteer to take part please contact:
Peter Strachan
Programme Co-ordinator
Growing Together
c/o Blackthorn Community Centre
Longmead Court
Blackthorn
Northampton
NN3 8QD

Telephone: 07581 813137
Email: peter.strachan@blackthorncommunity.org.uk


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