Four Neighbourhood Plan Referendums will take place on Thursday 6 May 2021 in Alcester, Clifford Chambers & Milcote, Ilmington, and Napton-on-the-Hill.
Voters in these parishes will go to the polls to vote if Stratford-on-Avon District Council should use the Neighbourhood Plan for their area to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
To vote in these referendums residents of these areas must be registered to vote and be 18 or over on the day of the poll.
To check you are on the Electoral Register and eligible to vote or to register please contact the District Council's Electoral Services on 01789 260208 no later than Monday 19 April 2021.
Counting for the Neighbourhood Planning Referendums will take place on Friday 7 May together with the election count for Warwickshire County Council at Stratford Leisure Centre, when the results will be announced.
The referendums will be asking whether the community wish to see the District Council use the Neighbourhood Plan to decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area (which is based on the Parish boundary for each Neighbourhood Plan, respectively).
A number of documents (referred to as 'specified documents' in the Regulations) have been produced in order to help with the voting process. These specified documents can be viewed on the District Council's website on the page dedicated to the specific referendums.
Alcester Neighbourhood Plan
The Alcester Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined between October 2019 and January 2020 and the Examiner recommended that, subject to some proposed modifications, the Plan should proceed to referendum.
Following receipt of the Examiner's report on 13 January 2020 and consideration of the recommendations contained therein, the District Council has agreed that the Plan should proceed to referendum subject to certain modifications. The District Council's Place Portfolio Holder has endorsed officers' recommendation to proceed to referendum.
For further information visit: www.stratford.gov.uk/alcesternp
Clifford Chambers & Milcote Neighbourhood Plan
The Clifford Chambers & Milcote Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined between May and September 2020 and the Examiner recommended that, subject to some proposed modifications, the Plan should proceed to referendum.
Following receipt of the Examiner's report on 10 September 2020 and consideration of the recommendations contained therein, the District Council has agreed that the Plan should proceed to referendum subject to certain modifications. The District Council's Place Portfolio Holder has endorsed officers' recommendation to proceed to referendum.
For further information visit: www.stratford.gov.uk/ccandmnp
Ilmington Neighbourhood Plan
The Ilmington Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined between October 2019 and February 2020 and the Examiner recommended that, subject to some proposed modifications, the Plan should proceed to referendum.
Following receipt of the Examiner's report on 24 February 2020 and consideration of the recommendations contained therein, the District Council has agreed that the Plan should proceed to referendum subject to certain modifications. The District Council's Place Portfolio Holder has endorsed officers' recommendation to proceed to referendum.
For further information visit: www.stratford.gov.uk/ilmingtonnp
Napton-on-the-Hill Neighbourhood Plan
The Napton-on-the-Hill Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined between May and November 2020 and the Examiner recommended that, subject to some proposed modifications, the Plan should proceed to referendum.
Following receipt of the Examiner's report on 16 November 2021 and consideration of the recommendations contained therein, the District Council has agreed that the Plan should proceed to referendum subject to certain modifications. The District Council's Place Portfolio Holder has endorsed officers' recommendation to proceed to referendum.
For further information visit: www.stratford.gov.uk/naptonnp
In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (Referendum) Regulations 2012 (as amended) the Local Planning Authority must publicise the referendum for a minimum of 28 working days prior to the date of the referendum.
The documents are also available on the District Council website, as detailed above for the four referendums.
Alternatively, a printed version of the specified documents are available for inspection at:
- The District Council offices by appointment by calling 01789 260334.
Please note: due to Covid restrictions Elizabeth House is currently closed (as at 24 March 2021).
- Stratford-upon-Avon Library, by calling 0300 555 8171 as they are operating a click and collect service only at this time.
Additionally, the following Neighbourhood Plans are also available to inspect at the following locations:
- Ilmington Neighbourhood Plan: Shipston-on-Stour Library.
- Alcester Neighbourhood Plan: Alcester Library
- Napton-on-the-Hill Neighbourhood Plan: Southam Library
All of the above libraries should be contacted first by calling 0300 555 8171 in order to arrange inspection of the documents, as they are operating a click and collect service only at this time.
If you have difficulty accessing any of the documentation please call the Planning Policy team at the District Council on 01789 260334 who will be able to assist.
Neighbourhood planning is a key component of the Government's Localism Act, introducing a new tier of planning. The Localism Act devolves greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods, giving local people new rights to shape the development of the communities in which they live by taking a more active role in the development of planning policy at a local level.
The Act makes it clear that a Neighbourhood Plan will have to generally conform to the Development Plan produced by the District Council.
