Bearley Neighbourhood Plan has now been made

Stratford-on-Avon District Council resolved that the Bearley Neighbourhood Plan was 'made' on 18th October 2021. It is now formally part of the District Council's development plan and will be used to assist in making decisions on planning applications within the area.

'Yes' vote at referendum

On Thursday 9 September 2021, voters in Bearley voted ‘yes' to the Neighbourhood Plan.

  • 89.8% (184 people) of those voting said ‘Yes'
  • 10.2% (21 people) of those voting said ‘No'
  • The turnout was 38%

Plan to proceed to referendum

The Bearley Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined between February and September 2020 and the Examiner recommended that, subject to some proposed modifications, the Plan should proceed to referendum. In one instance, the Local Planning Authority disagreed with a decision recommended by the Examiner. In accordance with Regulation 17A of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development Management Procedure (Amendment) Regulations 2016, the Local Planning Authority publicised the proposed amendments to the recommended modification for a minimum 6 week consultation between 11 May and 22 June 2021.

The District Council has now endorsed the Plan to proceed to a referendum to be held on Thursday 9 September 2021.

The polling station will be at Bearley Village Hall, Snitterfield Road, Bearley, Warwickshire CV37 0SR.

The question on the ballot paper will be as follows:

“Do you want Stratford-on-Avon District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Bearley to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

A number of documents (referred to as ‘specified documents' in the Neighbourhood Planning regulations) are listed below to assist voters.

In addition, a copy of the Regulation 17A Consultation Statement is also published with the specified documents for information.

Outcome of Regulation 17a Consultation and Decision for Plan to Proceed to Referendum

The District Council has issued a Decision Statement on the Bearley Neighbourhood Plan, and the Portfolio Holder for Place and Economy at the District Council has endorsed the recommendation for the Plan to proceed to referendum.

In the majority of instances, the Council has accepted the Examiner's recommended modifications on the Bearley Neighbourhood Plan. In one instance, the Local Planning Authority disagreed with a decision recommended by the Examiner.

In accordance with Regulation 17A of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development Management Procedure (Amendment) Regulations 2016, the Local Planning Authority publicised the proposed amendments to the Examiner's recommended modification for a minimum 6 week consultation between 11 May and 22 June 2021.

The District Council has considered each of the representations received through the Regulation 17a consultation. The Consultation Statement below details each of the representations received and the District Council's response. It is anticipated that the referendum on the Bearley Neighbourhood Plan will take place in September 2021.

Consultation on proposed amendments to the Independent Examiner's recommended modifications

Following receipt of the report of the Independent Examiner of the Bearley Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), the Local Planning Authority decided to proceed with a Regulation 17a consultation on a proposed decision that differs from that recommended by the Independent Examiner.

The Examiner's Independent Report on the Bearley NDP was published in September 2020. The Local Planning Authority proposed to make a decision on one specific matter that differs from that recommended by the Examiner. Therefore, in accordance with Regulation 17A of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development Management Procedure (Amendment) Regulations 2016, the Local Planning Authority publicised the proposed amendments to the recommended modification for a minimum 6 week period, inviting the submission of representations from organisations and individuals on the changes.

The changes are summarised in the documents below:

Examiner's Report

Following completion of the independent examination of the Bearley Neighbourhood Development Plan, the examiner issued his report to the District Council in September 2020.

In accordance with paragraph 18 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), The Local Planning Authority must now consider what action to take in response to the recommendations of the Examiner and decide what modifications, if any, are to be made to the Plan in order for it to proceed to referendum.

Examination

Following completion of the Regulation 16 (Formal Submission) consultation in December this year, the Bearley Neighbourhood Plan has been sent for examination by an independent examiner.

Formal Submission consultation

Bearley Parish Council has formally submitted the Bearley Neighbourhood Plan to Stratford District Council. In accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), the District Council held a consultation between 31 October 2019 and Friday 13 December 2019 on the policies proposed in the Submission version of the Plan.

The Submission Draft Plan and associated consultation documents can be viewed below:

Supporting Documents

Local Green Spaces Assessments

Strategic Environment Assessment

Pre-Submission draft consultation

The Pre-Submission Draft of the Bearley Neighbourhood Plan was published for a six week period of consultation between 31 January 2019 and 14 March 2019 in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

Neighbourhood Area designation

The Bearley Neighbourhood Plan Area was designated on 9 September 2014. Bearley Parish Council was the relevant body that applied to the District Council for designation. The area application documents can be found below:

Find out more

This page can be accessed quickly using the short link www.stratford.gov.uk/bearleynp

Contact: The Planning Policy team

Last updated on 08/07/2022