Neighbourhood Planning:

1. Neighbourhood Planning: A Village Perspective

2. Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

3. WOODCOTE A Village: • Halfway between Reading and Wallingford • Entirely within the Chilterns AONB • Comprising some Victorian but mostly modern brick houses • In which most work outside the village and fewer than half of those • employed locally live in the village; and • Probably best known for its famous Rally Woodcote Rally An active community • Of some 2500 – 400% larger than in the 1950’s • Who care about Woodcote’s future • Who value the rural look and feel of the village and surrounding countryside; • and • Who feel very strongly that further development should not be allowed. Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

4. WHY BOTHER ? New Housing Driven by developers and landowners’ needs - not the community’s Destroying the village feel Eroding the AONB Frustration Powerlessness Desire for Better match of development to need More say - much greater local input Stability in a longer term binding agreement Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

5. PROBLEMS Frontrunner No precedent No examples No guidance What’s needed? Documents Notices Examination How’s it done? Process? AND Ignorance Ours & the Planners Resistance/scepticism No housing in Woodcote NP will carry no weight Interference Lobbying from developers and landowners Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

6. WHAT HELPED ? ❶ Forming an Advisory Group ❷ • Using a ‘bootstrap’ process • - starting with 6 key questions What is the Housing Need ? Where might new houses go? How are possible sites prioritised? What should new housing look like? What else should we consider? How do we comply with planning rules? AND Engaging and listening Collecting information ❸ Desk Research Village meetings Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

7. WHAT HELPED ? Finding allies • OALC, ORCC, CPRE ❹ ❺ Copying from others Thame ❻ Studying the Core Strategy ❼ Getting stuck in Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

8. EARLY LESSONS In the beginning...... • Have a clear sense of desired outcomes • Get a road map early • Get a budget together • Create and implement a communication plan • Get a community mandate • Identify an engaging entry point • Proceed in small steps community engagement ;and • buy-in and learning as you go • There’s help out there – ORCC, OALC, .... Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

9. EARLY LESSONS Remember • The Examination - document evidence as you go along • The Referendum – consult and communicate continuously • The Sustainability Assessment – start the scoping report asap • To watch for ‘Scope Creep and ‘hijackers’ • It’s a community plan – not yours! Be Ready For • Interference and attack • Frenzy Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

10. DOCUMENTS Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

12. COMMUNICATION Our Approach Woodcote NP Public Meeting • Awareness • Acceptance, • Interest, • Engagement • Website • E-mail • Village magazine • Local press Frequent general communication Examination Consultation Statement Consult, consult, consult • Open meetings, • Open workshops • ..... • Before...... • After Referendum No surprises Oxford Brookes Wednesday 17th April 2013 www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

13. www.woodcotendp.org.uk www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk

14. RANKING RULES RANKING SITE DATA www.woodcote-online.co.uk www.woodcotendp.org.uk