Futures Forum: Neighbourhood planning @ Sidmouth Town Council >>> meeting Monday 6th July
Here's an interesting model from Frome in Somerset:
PLANNING FOR FROME’S FUTURE
THE DRAFT NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR FROME HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO MENDIP DISTRICT COUNCIL
To view a copy of the submitted plan and accompanying documents click here.
Frome Town Council has been leading the development of a Neighbourhood Plan for Frome. This work is part of a new approach to the development of the town. It will enable the community of Frome to take greater control of the type and scale of development and land use in the future.
The Draft Plan which can be viewed here has already been through public consultation and the overwhelming majority of respondents have supported it. Work is now proceeding to prepare the Plan for submission to Mendip District Council in August 2014. The District Council will ultimately be responsible for taking the Neighbourhood Plan to a local referendum. A ‘yes’ vote will lead to the Plan becoming part of the Development Plan for Mendip District and will have to be taken into account when planning applications are received.
THE FOCUS OF THE PLAN
The Plan has a particular focus on:-
Encouraging small businesses to start and grow – Our aim is to ensure that the right premises, sites and other infrastructure is in place to support the start-up and growth of local businesses and employment. This will be achieved through policies that protect the existing valuable employment land in the town and enable additional employment land to come forward.
Enabling people to build their own homes, live more affordably in a more energy efficient way and play a more active part in the community – One of the key objectives is to support the delivery of housing to meet the demand of a growing population. This will be achieved through policies that:-
- provide or contribute to a mix of housing tenures, types and sizes to help support the creation of mixed, balanced and inclusive communities
- are quality design developments, providing energy efficient homes
- make provision for self-build and community-build housing
Making it easier for people to get around the town on foot and by bicycle – some of the key objectives are to give priority in the Town Centre to pedestrians and cyclists and to open up the River Corridor for cross-town cycle and pedestrian access.
Regenerating the town centre – so that it functions better as a place to live, work, meet, shop and visit – our aim is to develop an attractive centre that is pedestrian and cyclist friendly and encourages people to visit, shop, invest, live and work there.
Making the most of the River Frome corridor as an environmental and recreational asset – our aim is that the river corridor will be seen as the central open space in the town’s network of green infrastructure with a string of inter-connected open spaces for visitors and residents to enjoy.
Ensuring future development does not damage Frome’s unique character – consultation feedback confirms that the historic architecture and urban design of the town is considered by the local community to be an asset of considerable value that should be protected. This will be achieved through policies that will:-
- enhance the important arrival points within the town, including the railway station.
- protect the important views across the town
To view a film on the Neighbourhood Plan click here (add link – see existing website)
HOW THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED
You can read all about how the plan was developed by clicking here.
Planning for Frome’s Future - Frome Town Council
Frome Town Council - Information for Residents and Visitors
This is a truly Transition Town:
How Flatpack Democracy beat the old parties in the People’s Republic of Frome
On 7 May, a small Somerset town voted against traditional party politics and gave a coalition of independents control of all 17 seats on its council. As the crucible of ‘flatpack democracy’, Frome is leading a small-scale political revolution – and it’s one that is spreading
Friday 22 May 2015 12.12 BST
“Taking political power at a local level, then using it to enable people to have a greater say in the decisions that affect their lives.”
Last year, Macfadyen decided to pour the IfF story into a 100-page booklet called Flatpack Democracy, subtitled “A DIY guide to creating independent politics”. When the-then local government secretary Eric Pickles visited Frome in February 2015, he pronounced it the “home of localism”, bought a copy, and after having lunch with Macfadyen, insisted that he sign it.In Buckfastleigh in Devon (population: 3,326), the Buckfastleigh Independents group have followed a similar path.
How Flatpack Democracy beat the old parties in the People’s Republic of Frome | Politics | The Guardian
See also:
Futures Forum: Transition towns and getting 'political'
Futures Forum: Flatpack Democracy: 'Vote for Chaos'
.
.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment