Search

Batchworth Neighbourhood Area

On 18 June 2018 the Policy and Resources Committee of Three Rivers District Council designated the whole of Batchworth parished as a Neighbourhood Area. A copy of the Designation Notice and a map of the Designated Area can be accessed below.

Designation Notification Batchworth (doc)

Batchworth Designated Neighbourhood Area Map (pdf)

Background

An application to designate Batchworth parished area as a Neighbourhood Area was submitted by Batchworth Community Council to Three Rivers District Council in March 2018 and was then subject to an six week period of public consultation between 6 April 2018 and 18 May 2018.

As part of the public consultation details of the application, consultation period and how to make written representations were published on the Three Rivers District Council website; copies of the application were made available at Rickmansworth Library and Three Rivers House; details of the application were published in the Watford Observer on the 6 April 2018; and representatives of the local residents’ associations and chamber of commerce were contacted and informed about the consultation details to provide all those who live, work and carry on business in the Parish the opportunity to comment on the designation. Only one response was received. The comment set out planning policy on Neighbourhood Plans in general, and was unclear on whether it supported or opposed the designation of the Batchworth Neighbourhood Area

Following the end of the consultation period, a report was prepared for the Council’s Sustainable Development, Planning and Transport Committee recommending that a Neighbourhood Area be designated for the whole Batchworth Neighbourhood Area. The report considered the application in the context of the relevant Legislation (Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Localism Act 2011 and Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012) and the consultation response received.

Next step – Producing a Neighbourhood Plan

The Parish Council are now able to begin work on a Neighbourhood Plan for the Batchworth Neighbourhood Area. A Neighbourhood Plan, which can become part of the statutory development plan for the designated area, can assist local communities in shaping how their locality develops by establishing general planning policies for the development and use of land within a defined area. The content of a Neighbourhood Plan can be adapted to reflect the local situation but it is likely to include development management policies (e.g. design policies).

To become part of the development plan, a Neighbourhood Plan must receive a majority ‘Yes’ vote in a local referendum organised by the Local Planning Authority. To reach the referendum stage a Neighbourhood Plan needs to progress through several stages:

  1. Completed Neighbourhood Plans are submitted to the Local Planning Authority who need to be satisfied that the submitted plan complies with the strategic priorities of the local development plan.
  2. Following a period of public consultation, the submitted plan will be examined by an independent inspector who is required to ensure the plan meets a set of basic conditions and legal requirements.
  3. Following a successful examination, a submitted Neighbourhood Plan can continue to a Local Referendum (in this case within Batchworth) and, if successful, be adopted as part of the development plan.

For more information on Neighbourhood Plans please see:

FAQs

Go to FAQs

Quick links