A Neighbourhood Plan for Round Hill
STOP PRESS: Rottingdean has now produced A neighbourhood plan which was out for consultation between 2nd February and 16th March 2023. The rural feel of Rottingdean has been affected by a planning permission for 93 houses on the former Sy Aubyn’s School site on the east side of the High Street. I note that the Rottingdean plan includes the proposal that the remaining land on the former St Aubyns Playing Field should be designated Local Green Space, making it an accessible public space.
What is Neighbourhood Planning? (Government info)
The Localism Act 2011 introduced statutory Neighbourhood Planning in England. It enables communities to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan for their area and is intended to give communities more of a say in the development of their local area (within certain limits and parameters).
These plans will be used to decide the future of the places where you live and work giving opportunities to:
- choose where you want new homes, shops and offices to be built
- have your say on what new buildings should look like
- grant planning permission for the new buildings you want to see go ahead.
Neighbourhood Planning support
See the My Community website.
Brighton and Hove City Council's page on neighbourhood planning.
Download the Neighbourhood Plan Quick Reference guide from Brighton and Hove City Council's website
Application Forms and previous examples
Applying for designations
Application form (Neighbourhood Area) - Example: Hove Park
Application form (Neighbourhood Forum) - Example: Hove Park
Area map and distribution of forum members
Rottingdean Parish Neighbourhood Area map
Hove Station Neighbourhood Forum Distribution of members
Hove Park Neighbourhood Forum Distribution of members
Constitution - looks to be a standard document
Hove Park Neighbourhood Forum Constitution. Note: that of the Hove Station Neighbourhood Forum looks very similar.
Funding
Applying for grants and professional support from Locality.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has made £10.5m available.
1. Get the community on board To satisfy the local planning authority, membership of a Round Hill neighbourhood forum would need to be drawn from different places in area (we could try to achieve this through a 'street representative' structure). We need roles which are not over-demanding in order to keep local residents (who may have limited time) on board.
We would need to retain a minimum of 21 members in order to fulfil the Council's designation requirements The purposes of the forum would need to reflect the character of Round Hill.
The vision for the neighbourhood plan would need to contain aims which could be supported by a majority of those who live in our area.
The constitutions adopted by Hove Park and Hove Station Neighbourhood Forums contain the following general statement under the heading "AIMS". The Forum aims to improve social, economic and environmental conditions in the Hove Park Ward Neighbourhoods area, particularly through the preparation and implementation of a Neighbourhood Plan.
The latter statement could encompass a shared wish: a) to preserve our conservation area's open spaces e.g. the green ribbons between the historic terraces 
A neighbourhood plan would allow Round Hill to apply a “Local Green Space” designation (See Government Guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/8-promoting-healthy-and-safe-communities#para100 sections 101 to 103) to offer protection to our precious ‘green ribbons” .
I notice that Brighton and Hove City Council has a paper on Local Green Space designation at https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/migrated/article/inline/FINAL%20LGS%20Topic%20Paper.pdf
b) to prevent sites unsuitable for residential development from being used for urban cramming
c) to develop suitable planning briefs for sites like:
+ Richmond House: no taller than 2-storeys; amount / design / use in keeping with the character & appearance of the conservation area; a use which is compatible with community wishes, preferably one which harnesses resources (e.g. social or economic) which local residents have to offer. 
d) to safeguard planning conditions which are created to protect the amenity of Round Hill residents when permissions are granted for installations such as the Waste Transfer Station and Materials Recovery Facility e.g. limits to when the installations can operate at weekends
2. Define the 'neighbourhood area' 
We could use the map which accompanies Round Hill's Conservation Area Character Statement.
3. Establish a neighbourhood forum A designated neighbourhood forum, like a town or parish council, can take on the role of developing a neighbourhood plan.
To become a neighbourhood forum, an organisation or body must apply for designation by the local authority and satisfy criteria relating to its social, economic and environmental aims and local membership.
Only one neighbourhood forum can be designated for each neighbourhood area. A designation lasts for five years unless a planning authority has reason to withdraw the designation.
Membership criteria
Membership of the forum should be drawn from different places in the neighbourhood area and from different sections of the community. The forum needs to have at least one resident, one worker and one elected member.
Membership must be open to the following categories:
* individuals who live in the neighbourhood area
* individuals who work there (whether for business carried on there or otherwise)
* individuals who are elected members of any county council, district council or London borough whose area falls within the neighbourhood concerned.
and must include A MINIMUM OF 21 INDIVIDUALS who fit one or more of the above categories
Written constitution needed
The organisation or body (i.e. the neighbourhood forum) must also have a written constitution.
Once all the criteria and conditions have been met, the local planning authority should be able to recognise the neighbourhood forum designation. If for any reason, it happens that the conditions and criteria are no longer met, the local authority can withdraw a neighbourhood forum designation, but must give reasons to the organisation or body.
Produce a programme for developing the plan
Develop a communications strategy
4. Develop a Vision and establish
the key issues and potential options
* Gather together relevant information (area profile / population dat, relevant sections from City Plan background studies etc)
* Identify the area's strengths and weaknesses
* Draft the vision and issues and options
* Check for conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan
* Consult / check draft vision, issues, options and objectives with community
5. Developing the Plan * Develop policies
* Develop an implementation plan
* Finalise draft of the RH Neighbourhood Plan
* Check for conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan
* Consult / check draft RH Neighbourhood Plan with community and other stakeholders
6. Statutory Stages
Independent
Submit to Brighton and Hove City Council
Examination
* Appointment of independent examiner
* Examiner's report
Referendum
Brighton and Hove Council co-ordinates a local referendum
Adoption
If simple majority support plan at referendum, the Council is to adopt the neighbourhood plan (forming part of the development plan).