Neighbourhood Plan Update March 2026
As reported in previous newsletters the Parish Council has decided to advance work to produce a Neighbourhood Plan. A sub team has been formed, consisting of Councillors and volunteers from the community and the team has been investigating the best way to resource such a project.
In January the sub team reported back to the Parish Council recommending that the proposed neighbourhood area designation process should be started with both Cheshire East and Chester and Cheshire West local authorities and the Parish Council has now started that process. The team also recommended that a professional consultant led approach should be undertaken (rather than volunteer led) and as a result quotes are currently being obtained from suitable consultants and the Parish Council has planned accordingly for such costs when the 26-27 budget was set in the January Parish Council meeting.
Below we have provided some initial information on the why, and how this will be achieved, with the support of the Lower Peover community.
A Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led framework to guide the future development, regeneration and conservation of an area and has more scope than existing Parish Plans. It deals with a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues (such as housing, employment, heritage and transport) based on robust evidence, including views from residents. Often specialist Consultants are employed to assist with the 2-year process as this is a complex legal document.
Why develop a Neighbourhood Plan?
A Neighbourhood Plan will enable the Parish residents to play a much stronger role in shaping the area in which they live and work as decisions on planning applications will be made using both the Council Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan. Unusually in Lower Peover we have both Cheshire West and Chester. and Cheshire East councils to work with. This adds an additional burden to the development and implementation of the Neighbourhood Plan and is a further reason why Consultants will be used to assist in developing the document.
A Neighbourhood Plan provides a positive vision for how residents want their community to develop over the next 10, 15, 20 years in ways that meet identified local need and make sense for local people. It addresses the development and use of land, transport and services. Applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
What evidence is needed to form a Neighbourhood Plan?
The list of evidence comes from consultation with residents, local groups, transport and highways users, local businesses and specialist interest groups from the area all within the confines of local planning. Many Parish councils in the area have already, or are developing a Neighbourhood Plan, as this is one of the tools that district council and Government agencies must consult when considering planning developments.
Most importantly the Neighbourhood Plan is created through detailed consultation with the residents of the Parish, so you will have your opportunity to provide inputs to the process. More information will be shared about this in due course. In the meantime, if you wish to get more involved in the Neighbourhood Plan Sub Team, please contact Councillor Jackson