About the NDP

Bramshott and Liphook NDP Mission Statement

 To listen to the community to deliver a Neighbourhood Development Plan to enhance the Parish of Bramshott and Liphook, both now and into the future.

What is the designated area for the B&L NDP?

The designated area for the B&L NDP is shown in the map below. It is split between two Planning Authorities, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA).

What is a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP)?

Neighbourhood planning is a right that communities have to shape development in their areas through the production of agreed plan. An NDP becomes part of the Local Plan and the policies contained within them are then used in the determination of planning applications.

An NDP sets out specific planning policies to suit the community’s vision. A plan can also allocate sites for specific use e.g., housing, community facilities, sports fields, mixed use development etc.

The Bramshott and Liphook NDP was set up by the Parish Council. The NDP Steering Group carries out all the relevant work and preparation of the NDP in order to provide robust recommendations and a well-thought out plan to the Parish Council for their final approval.

What are the benefits of an NDP for the local community?

A well-considered NDP can ensure local communities get the benefits that they need that in turn this can improve the health and wellbeing of a community and protect and enhance the local natural and built environment. This is done through planning policies that can improve the visual appearance of an area, improve rundown areas, enhance through more green space, improve availability of recreational facilities.

In addition, having an NDP in place increases the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions for the Parish, which increases the funding available for improvements to be carried out by the Parish Council.

What’s the current stage and when will it be completed?

There have been a series of community events arranged by the Steering Group to listen to local people to understand what the Parish wants and needs for the future.

The findings having been collated into an NDP which will be put to the Parish residents for approval via a public referendum – approximate timescale Spring 2024.

Before that the steering group are pleased to invite you to give feedback on the first draft of the NDP  at the March 2023 consultation (see homepage for details) before we finalise it ready for the formal 6 week Regulation 14 Pre-Submission public consultation in late Summer 2023.

This is followed by the Regulations 16 Consultation undertaken by EHDC. The plan is then submitted to the Examiner, before finally being submitted for Referendum at the Examiner’s recommendation. A Referendum is successful where there is a majority in support.

What roles do East Hampshire District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority have?

The designated area for the B&L NDP is split between two planning authorities. The majority of the Parish is within East Hampshire District Council’s planning authority (EHDC), and the South Down National Park Authority (SDNPA) covers the area wrapping around the South of Liphook, and to the West side of the Parish.

Each Planning Authority has its own Local Plan and planning policies, at present EHDC’s Local Plan is being reviewed.

EHDC are the lead planning authority for the purposes of the NDP.

The decision to not allocate sites in the Bramshott and Liphook NDP

At the NDP steering group meeting in 14th February 2023 it was decided not to allocate sites in the B&L NDP and to take forward a policies only plan.

The decision was made because the steering group didn’t want to risk significant successful planning applications without an NDP in place to ensure quality development that meets local need. NDPs with site allocations are a longer process because there is more scrutiny.

The Bramshott and Liphook NDP has a Development Location Policy – BL1. Once the plan is in place this policy can help assessors check the sites suitability for development as shaping the type and quality of development with other policies.

At this point we may then want to consider site allocation and we can do this through an early review or a new plan.

This decision was not taken likely. The plan had previously been following a route towards allocation, and the Steering Group has done a lot of work to assess potential sites in the parish.

The site assessment work will, however, not be lost. It will form part of the NDP evidence pack and can feed into the emerging local plan and inform the next Bramshott and Liphook NDP.

What conditions do NDPs have to meet?

To make sure the plans are legally compliant and take account of other local and national policies, the plans have to meet a number of conditions before they can be put to a community referendum and legally come into force. NDPs must be in line with:

  1. National Planning Policy
  2. Strategic policies in the development plan for the local area. These include the South Downs Local Plan 2014-2033 (adopted July 2019) and currently the East Hampshire District Local Plan: Joint Core Strategy adopted in June 2014.

Who checks that the plans are compliant before they are voted on?

An independently qualified person (Examiner) checks that an NDP appropriately meets the conditions before it can be voted on in a local referendum.

When are the plans implemented?

Following a successful referendum the NDP will become a formal piece of planning legislation legally brought into force by EHDC.

Who will decide planning applications once we have an NDP for Bramshott & Liphook?

EHDC and SDNPA remain the decision makers for planning applications in our Parish, and they will legally required to assess all planning applications submitted in this Parish against the NDP for conformity.

Can an NDP stop development from happening in our area?

No, the Government has made clear that NDPs are not tools to stop development. There are intended to be enabling Plans so they cannot, for instance, promote a lower rate of development in an area than may have already been agreed by the Planning Authority. They must be consistent with National and local planning policies.

An NDP can promote and allocate land for specific uses, in consultation with land owners, and can assist with protecting parts of the Parish for specific use classes, ie. retaining commercial units etc.

What is a ‘Call for Sites’?

A ‘Call for Sites’ is a specific request for landowners to submit land and property, that is available for development, for the NDPs consideration. The sites that come forward are individually assessed against a set criteria to establish their potential, restrictions and scope to provide suitable facilities and development for the parish.

This process forms part of the formal assessment to identify where potential new development could be located within the parish.

What is a Site Options Assessment?

A Site Options Assessment assesses all potential sites that have been put forward for consideration to the NDP and also to EHDC and SDNPA, in their own independent Call for Sites. The assessment is unbiased and utilises a criteria matrix and ‘traffic light’ system to set out potential sites within the parish. The assessment provides unbiased evidence on which sites have scope for further consideration.

‘Locality’ provide this technical assessment for free through independent consultants, AECOM.

What is a Strategic Environmental Assessment?

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) considers environmental factors such as biodiversity, landscape character, historical environment, air, water and soil quality, and also socio-economic factors. The process helps avoid and mitigate potential negative effects and helps to identify the land and property opportunities available to an NDP for allocation for different land uses.

It is a statutory requirement, and includes consultation with Natural England, Historic England and the Environment Agency. ‘Locality’ provide this technical assessment for free through independent consultants, AECOM.

What is a Habitats Regulations Assessment?

A Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) considers whether a Plan or proposed development is likely to have a significant effect on the integrity of a protected ‘European Site’, whether alone or in combination with other local Plans or projects. The assessment determines whether the significant effects of proposals on a protected European site can be ruled out on the basis of objective information, or if mitigation is required to make the proposals acceptable.

‘Locality’ provide this technical assessment for free through independent consultants, AECOM.

The result of Brexit does not currently impact HRAs as the protected ‘European Sites’ are integrated into English legislation.

What is a Housing Needs Assessment?

A Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) provides robust, objectively assessed data on local housing need for specific areas. It is just one part of the evidence base and helps an NDP to understand the specific housing requirements of their neighbourhood and to work out the share of wider housing growth an NDP should plan for.

‘Locality’ provide this technical assessment for free through independent consultants, AECOM.

How can I give my views as the plan develops?

Public consultation events happen at key points in the process – it is vital that as many people as possible attend these events and provide feedback on the proposals put forward!

The next public consultation event on the week of 20th March 2023 (see homepage for details) is to give feedback on the draft B&L NDP. Please come along your input is vital to progress the plan to completion.

Who can I contact if I want more information?

You can read about the NDP here on this website, and use the Contact Us page to get in touch with the Steering Group and the Working Parties.

What about the previous Parish Plan?

The Bramshott and Liphook Parish Plan produced in August 2015 provides a wealth of information on the Parish and the community’s view of the challenges that the Parish faces. The information provided in this plan serves as a great foundation on which to build the Bramshott and Liphook NDP.

Why should I join the NDP team?

It is important to the community that the NDP succeeds as it will help to shape the future of our villages and whole Parish. It will help planning authorities make decisions about housing and facilities and help guide new development to be in line with the community’s vision for the future of their Parish.

You also get to meet like-minded people and make some new friends within the Parish!

Why should I join the NDP team?

It is important to the community that the NDP succeeds as it will help to shape the future of our villages and whole Parish. It will help planning authorities make decisions about housing and facilities and help guide new development to be in line with the community’s vision for the future of their Parish.

You also get to meet like-minded people and make some new friends within the Parish!

How to contact us to get involved can be found HERE.

What skills or experience are needed – can I help?

Yes! You have a wealth of local knowledge through living in this Parish, and vital inputs and expertise associated with the various demographics covered by you and your family and friends. It is key to ensure the plan supports all those living in the parish from the new babies and parents, through to the retired population – everyone deserves to benefit from where they live.

How to contact us to get involved can be found HERE.

What is the Steering Group?

The Steering Group is the core team of volunteers who guide the process, liaise with the key authorities, including EHDC, SDNPA and Locality, and importantly vote on the proposals to be put forward to the Parish Council for final consideration.

The Steering Group has been formed from a selection of local residents who represent a broad spectrum of the local community and bring a range of skills and experience to the NPD process. All members have been through a selection process including interviews, declaration of interests and their appointment has been approved by the Parish Council.

The current members of the steering group members can be found HERE.