New government funding has been introduced to several communities throughout the country to give people the opportunity to have some input towards the development of their local area.
£23 million will be provided to help communities gain access to the expert advice from planning professionals along with guidance and financial support that will allow them to shape their neighbourhood.
This fund will give people a say on the location and design of many aspects of their local area such as homes, businesses and schools, helping develop the vision for their area.
Already off to a strong start, over 2,300 communities in England have begun the process of neighbourhood planning and 530 plans have already been approved in local referendums.
Previous similar Government support schemes have seen success, as 365 neighbourhood plans were finalised, meaning approximately 70% of communities saw progress due to Government support.
Originally, the maximum grant that was available to communities was £15,000. However, the latest fund has increased this to £17,000, giving them more access to resources that will further help the progress of the plans for their area.
Housing Minister Dominic Raab spoke about the recent announcement for the £23 million fund, highlighting the importance of communities having an input in their area and providing them with the support that is needed to do so.
Raab said; “Neighbourhood plans are a powerful tool to help communities shape their local area, making sure the right homes are built in the right places.
“It’s vital that communities have the right support and advice available to help deliver a plan that meets their own ambitious aspirations. That’s why I’m making £23M available that will help more groups to do this.”
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