Minister unveils £17m fund for community planning orders
Author: Jamie Carpenter, Planning |
The Department for Communities and Local Government said that the £17 million of funding will be available over the next three years and must be used towards the costs of preparing submissions for Community Right to Build Orders.
Under the Localism Act’s Community Right to Build, communities can grant planning permission for new buildings they want to see go ahead, sidestepping the normal planning application process.
In order to bring forward a Community Right to Build Order, members of a community will need to form a formal organisation with the purpose of furthering the interests of the local community.
If more than 50 per cent of people support a Community Right to Build Order in a local referendum, then the local planning authority must grant permission.
Funding guidance, published today by housing and regeneration quango the Homes & Communities Agency, says that the government’s expectation is that community groups should contribute at least 10 per cent of the estimated costs of developing the proposal to the point that the group can submit a Community Right to Build Order proposal.
Shapps also announced an “early bird bonus” of up to £2,000 “to those that move quickly and get their plans in by the end of March next year”.
The HCA guidance says that the bonus will contribute to the minimum 10 per cent contribution to costs required from an organisation.
Community organisation umbrella group Locality is being funded by the DCLG to launch a new website, phone line, seminars and mentoring for those looking to use the Community Right to Build legislation.
Shapps said: “For too long communities have had to use their energy fighting development they didn’t want rather than putting it to use bringing about the homes, shops and facilities they did.
“The Community Right to Build completely changes that and puts communities in the driving seat by ensuring they can bring about the development their neighbourhood needs.”