Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Plan

Neighbourhood Plan 'made'

The Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Plan was 'made' by Melton Borough Council on 25 January 2023. The Neighbourhood Plan is now a statutory plan which means that decisions on planning applications will be made using both the Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan, and any other material considerations.

Referendum Result

On 31 January 2022, Burton and Dalby Parish Council approved the Draft Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Plan for submission to Melton Borough Council in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning General Regulations 2012 (as amended). The Draft Neighbourhood Plan was submitted to Melton Borough Council along with the Burton and Dalby Design Code, Basic Conditions Statement and Consultation Statement and, under Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, a further six-week public consultation took place between 12 April 2022 and 24 May 2022 before it was sent to an Independent Examiner.

On 16 August 2022, the Examiner recommended that the Plan is modified to meet the 'Basic Conditions' and then submitted to a referendum. On 21 September 2022, Melton Borough Council confirmed that the Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Plan will proceed to a Neighbourhood Referendum. The referendum was held on Thursday, 1^st December 2022.

The question asked in the Referendum was:

"Do you want Melton Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Burton and Dalby to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

On a turnout of 22.5%, 144 voted 'Yes' (76.6%) and 44 voted 'No' (23.4%).

Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Area

The Neighbourhood Area includes the whole of Burton and Dalby parish. Burton and Dalby Parish Council applied for Neighbourhood Area designation on 19 January 2016. Following a statutory six-week consultation period which ran from 28 January to 11 March 2016, the Neighbourhood Area was designated on 15 March 2016.

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

The Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Plan must have regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State. This is principally provided by the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance.

Melton Local Plan

Neighbourhood Development Plans must demonstrate that they are in general conformity with the strategic policies of the adopted development plan for the local area. The current adopted plan for the area is the Melton Local Plan (Adopted October 2018) which covers the period 2011-2036.

Community Engagement

The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 require neighbourhood planning groups and local planning authorities to undertake publicity in a manner that is likely to bring it to the attention of people who live, work or carry on business in the neighbourhood area at particular stages of the process. Below are some details of the steps we have taken to engage the community and others in shaping the development of the Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Plan.

Initial Consultation

Initial consultation was held in each of the three settlements as follows:

• Great Dalby: Monday 12 June 2017 at Great Dalby Village Hall
• Burton Lazars: 27 October 2016 at Burton Lazars Village Hall
• Little Dalby: Monday 22 August 2016 at The Hollies Education Centre

Each event was used to inform local people about the neighbourhood plan process and receive views and opinions on the key issues that the Neighbourhood Plan should address. During this period, local activity was focussed on the preparation of the Melton Local Plan which had significant implications for Great Dalby and the Neighbourhood Plan preparation programme.

Questionnaire Survey

The issues raised during the initial events helped in the preparation of the Burton and Dalby Household Survey. In January 2020, leaflets were delivered to around 430 local households inviting residents to complete an online questionnaire survey. Special arrangements were made for those that preferred to complete a hardcopy version of the questionnaire. The total number of completed household questionnaires was 90.

Draft Neighbourhood Plan

The feedback from consultation events, the questionnaire results and information about the area, helped us to prepare a (Pre-Submission) Draft version of the Burton and Dalby Neighbourhood Plan. Under Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, a pre-submission consultation period of no less than six weeks on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan ran from Monday 11 October to Monday 22 November 2021.

A copy of the Pre-Submission Draft of the Plan was made available to download. A summary of the Pre-Submission Draft of the Plan was delivered to all premises within the parish. During the consultation period, 'drop in' sessions in Great Dalby and Burton Lazars provided an opportunity to examine the contents of the Plan and to discuss it in more detail with members of the Parish Council.

Evidence

There is no 'tick box' list of evidence required for neighbourhood planning. Proportionate, robust evidence is required to support the choices made and the approach taken.

Countryside and Landscape

Green Infrastructure

National policy makes provision for local communities to identify green areas of importance to those communities, where development will not be permitted except in very special circumstances. The Melton Local Plan already identifies and protects a Local Green Space at St James' churchyard, but we can identify additional Local Green Spaces in our Neighbourhood Plan where justified.

Heritage and Design

Housing

Traffic and Transport