A Neighbourhood Plan for Marple

[hatter76]

I think this plans aims to restrict development in Marple. Let me make it clear I don't think that mass house building is right for Marple but we do need some.

Nationally the population is estimated to increase from 63 million to around 70 million in the next decade, these people need homes. If Marple took a proportionate increase we would need to increase housing stock by about 10%. In don't know how many homes are in Marple but I am guessing at around 800 new homes in the next 10 years based on 8000 current homes.

If we don't build them several things will happen. Prices will go up and it will be even more unaffordable for young people to start on the housing ladder. Also the government gives Councils payments if it reaches its targeted home building, its called new homes bonus payments. Without this bonus resources at the council will be even more stretched.

I hope that any sensible home building in Marple is mixed and provides a proportion of social, starter, semis and larger homes.

These realities need to be built into the Marple plan.

[Hoffnung]

A first reaction to this is to agree with a previous poster who said that is probably a better idea to have plan than no plan.

However even a cursory glance at the legislation informs us that these neighbourhood plans seem to be pretty much toothless tigers. I think that Condate makes some good points about 'restrictions' in his relevant post.

We will have to jump through hoops to get these plans accepted. Scrutiny by inspectors, possible public hearings and then after all this such a plan would have no statutory powers enshrined in legislation.

I looked up the appropriate Localism Act 2011 (authored no less by our own Lord Stunell) Part 6, Chapter 3, it states the following;

"...applications for planning permission should be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise."    

"Material Considerations?" Speaks for itself really.

[Condate]

One of the problems with the neighbourhood plan idea is the number of restrictions on what can be done.

The government web page on the subject contains the following.

Local councils will continue to produce development plans that will set the strategic context within which neighbourhood development plans will sit.

and later

Conditions are:

1) they must have regard to national planning policy
2) they must be in general conformity with strategic policies in the development plan for the local area (i.e. such as in a core strategy)
3) they must be compatible with EU obligations and human rights requirements.

Much as I detest the EU, I don't think condition 3 is likely to cause any issues, but the other two may do.

It's very clear looking at the government websites that the idea of the plans is to encourage development and prevent local communities from stopping unnecessary development desired by councils and government.

If the power to produce neighbourhood plans really meant giving power to communities, it would allow communities to stop their area being ruined by development, while still allowing that development which actually benefits the area.

The idea seems to be to force undesirable development on communities and then argue that the community agreed because the development they had no power to prevent is included in the neighbourhood plan.

[Condate]

On MCS - I read their objections to the initial signage planning application by Asda, and oh, my, god! There were reasonable objections to be made to some of the things Asda wanted to do (which they since changed), but MCS basically objected to everything, in the process coming across as the archetypal little village committee, with a small minded, petty, "local village for local people" attitude.

I'm neither a member of the Marple Civic Society, nor am I from Marple originally. However I fail to see what it wrong with trying to keep the wonderful town we have from being ruined by unnecessary development.  What is considered necessary, we will have to have and I don't doubt that some changes will be considered necessary, but it does need to be decided locally and not by the council, or government.

[mikes]

If we get more housing, not a problem, we are going to need more school places amongst other things..

[marpleexile]

However, Imho MCS, obviously mean well, 'bless em'  but they are a divisive organisation in Marple. It isn't even their fault it is the nature of the effect of self-appointed bodies that claim to represent us. As ringi says we have elected members to do this.

On MCS - I read their objections to the initial signage planning application by Asda, and oh, my, god! There were reasonable objections to be made to some of the things Asda wanted to do (which they since changed), but MCS basically objected to everything, in the process coming across as the archetypal little village committee, with a small minded, petty, "local village for local people" attitude.

[simonesaffron]

The idea probably has merit if only to settle the argument that it is better to have a plan than not have one. I'll probably go and have a look at the exhibition if only out of curiosity.

However, Imho MCS, obviously mean well, 'bless em'  but they are a divisive organisation in Marple. It isn't even their fault it is the nature of the effect of self-appointed bodies that claim to represent us. As ringi says we have elected members to do this.

[JohnBates]

I think what he meant was that more housing is needed in the UK in general. If we don't engage with the Neighbourhood Plan, we may not get any input into how much more of it ends up being in Marple.

Exactly. More housing is needed generally, so this is an opportunity to shape what happens locally.

I don’t feel that I have anything in common with the “Civic Society” as I wish to be able to shop in a full sized supermarket without having to leave Marple.
Should this not be done by the elected councils members, rather than a group of self appointed people? 

The whole idea is to get a cross section of people to form a Neighbourhood Forum to develop a plan.  The Civic Society have set the ball rolling, but as I understand they are not intending to run it. The idea of the Action and Information week is to attract a broad range of people and stakeholders. eg Friends Groups, Civic Society, Politicians, Residents.

Please come along and see, and perhaps apply to be a member of the Forum. Perhaps others will want a full sized supermarket 

[Howard]

I don’t feel that I have anything in common with the “Civic Society” as I wish to be able to shop in a full sized supermarket without having to leave Marple.

Should this not be done by the elected councils members, rather than a group of self appointed people?

Perhaps you could join the Civic society yourself to present another point of view.

[ringi]

I don’t feel that I have anything in common with the “Civic Society” as I wish to be able to shop in a full sized supermarket without having to leave Marple.

Should this not be done by the elected councils members, rather than a group of self appointed people? 

[marpleexile]

Why is lots more housing needed in Marple ?

I think what he meant was that more housing is needed in the UK in general. If we don't engage with the Neighbourhood Plan, we may not get any input into how much more of it ends up being in Marple.

[Condate]

As we are all aware, lots more housing is needed. This is an opportunity to help shape how and where this may be provided.

Well, I'd certainly oppose more than a minimum of new housing, as we seem to have an excess of new house building already.  If producing a neighbourhood plan allows local people to decide whether we need new housing and if so, how much, that can only be a good thing. Of course that won't be the case and in fact the wishes of local people will be ignored at usual and a level of new housing imposed from above.

[simonesaffron]

As we are all aware, lots more housing is needed. This is an opportunity to help shape how and where this may be provided.

Why is lots more housing needed in Marple ?

[JohnBates]

This is a very important initiative, and I would urge residents to attend the information week at Marple library to find out more.
If we do not have a locally decided Neighbourhood Plan then we will have to accept whatever Stockport Council and the Devolved Greater Manchester region may decide for future developments in the area.

From a document published and distributed to local groups by Marple Civic Society: www.marplecivicsociety.org.uk

A Neighbourhood Forum would give the people of Marple a stake in their future. But this requires people to come forward and become members of the Neighbourhood Forum. To help this process and enable people and local groups to join a Forum, the Civic Society is organising an Action and Information Week from the 14th March to the 19th March. This will include:

• A week long exhibition at the Public Library
• A Question and Answer Presentation on Saturday 19th March at the Library (between 10am to 2.00pm - time to be confirmed)
• Visits from surrounding towns that are working on their own Neighbourhood Plans,
• A Stakeholder Meeting on the 17th of March.
• A presentation to Area Committee on the 16th March

As we are all aware, lots more housing is needed. This is an opportunity to help shape how and where this may be provided.

[admin]

From a document published and distributed to local groups by Marple Civic Society: www.marplecivicsociety.org.uk

A Plan for Marple - Summary
Without a plan for the future, Marple will be a picture of uncoordinated development and gradual decline. A shocking thought – but the stark fact is that there is no official plan for how Marple should develop in the future. Everything is up for grabs.

The people of Marple can change this by creating a Neighbourhood Forum. This will be a minimum of 21 local people from all areas of the community, who will work on behalf of the community to develop a Neighbourhood Plan for Marple. Once accepted, the Plan will become an official planning document that Stockport Council must take into account (when making) planning decisions for Marple.

A Neighbourhood Forum would give the people of Marple a stake in their future. But this requires people to come forward and become members of the Neighbourhood Forum. To help this process and enable people and local groups to join a Forum, the Civic Society is organising an Action and Information Week from the 14th March to the 19th March. This will include:

• A week long exhibition at the Public Library
• Visits from surrounding towns that are working on their own Neighbourhood Plans,
• A presentation to Area Committee on the 16th March
• A Stakeholder Meeting on the 17th of March at 7pm in the Library.
• A Question and Answer Presentation on Saturday 19th March at the Library (between 10am to 2.00pm*)

*Check the Civic Society website for updates and detail of timings

The Civic Society also has an Outreach Programme. Specifically, the Civic Society is offering to come one of your meetings and explain to your members about how you can contribute to a Neighbourhood Forum.

This is important, because if sufficient people do not come forward to create of a Neighbourhood Forum, then there will be no Neighbourhood Plan. In this case the people of Marple will have little or no control over the future development of the town.

A Neighbourhood Plan for Marple

Background
In 2012, parliament introduced laws that allowed towns, villages and communities to take some control over planning and development in their area. Previously this had been exclusively in the hands of County Councils and the Metropolitan Boroughs. Local people had little say in what happened to their community – the high street, the parks and other facilities. Recently, new simplified planning regulations have been introduced. Under these rules, local views carry even less weight than before.

To balance this, the Localism Act allowed communities, like Marple, to form groups to represent all aspects of the community and gave them the right to develop their own plan for what should happen in their area. The groups are called Neighbourhood Forums and once it is agreed, the Neighbourhood Plan which they produce becomes part of the planning regulations that the County, Metropolitan and Local Councils follow.

The Civic Society wants to encourage and help facilitate a Neighbourhood Plan for Marple. Why? Well, because without a Neighbourhood Plan, Marple is vulnerable to unwanted change and development imposed from above. Westminster has devolved power to Greater Manchester to develop ambitious growth plans for housing, shops, businesses, roads and infrastructure. These growth plans will inevitably change outlying towns like Marple.

Stockport MBC, has no local plan document to guide planning decisions or to steer development that allows Marple to influence Marple’s future. The only way that Marple can voice its view, and be listened to, is through a Neighbourhood Forum and the Neighbourhood Plan that it produces.

Surrounding towns – like Woodford - have been deeply changed by recent developments in which they had no voice whatsoever. Woodford and other towns have recognised the urgency of the situation. They are taking control of their future by forming a Neighbourhood Forum. There is no doubt that Marple will grow, but if Marple wants to retain its identity then it too must form a Neighbourhood Forum.

What Can Marple do: An Action Plan

The Civic Society cannot itself create a Neighbourhood Forum, but it can help with the formation of a Neighbourhood Forum. In particular, through publicity and community stimulation, the Civic Society will try to create the conditions in which local people and groups can create a Forum for Marple.

To start this process the Civic Society is organising an Action and Information Week. From the 14th March to the 19th March the public and community stakeholders are encouraged to attend and participate.

The Action and Information Week will include:

• An exhibition at the Public Library over the entire week.
• Visits from surrounding towns that are working on their own Neighbourhood Plans,
• A presentation to Area Committee on the 16th March
• A Stakeholder Meeting on the 17th of March at 7pm in the Library.
• A Question and Answer Presentation on Saturday 19th March at the Library (between 10am to 2.00pm*)

*Check the Civic Society website for updates and detail of timings

Outreach to Community Groups

In addition to the Action and Information week, the Civic Society is reaching out to local groups. This why this leaflet has been sent to your organisation. The Civic Society would like your group to consider becoming a stakeholder in the formation of a Neighbourhood Forum. This will be a significant move for Marple, and to help you decide how your organisation can contribute, the Civic Society is offering to send a representative to talk to your members about Neighbourhood Plans and Forums.

What can you do?

If you would like more information, and the opportunity to discuss this further, then your organisation is invited to either accept the Civic Societies outreach offer and/or attend the Stakeholders Meeting that will take place on the 17th March at the Library. Full details of the complete Action and Information Programme will appear on the Civic Trust Website in the coming weeks.
The Civic Society strongly encourages your organisation to become part of this Forum and ensure that your member's voices are heard when the future of Marple is being shaped.