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To: The UK Government and especially the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution

Continuing support funding for community-led Neighbourhood Plans

Photo by Haidan on Unsplash
I want the Minister and UK Government that have successfully supported - according to the organisation, 'Locality' - "over 2,400 communities" to embark upon Neighbourhood Plans, not to terminate this funding.

More "than 1,000 plans" up to now have legal force to influence what development happens where within a locality.

Why is this important?

Cancelling Neighbouhood Plan NP and technical support grants (via Locality) is a means to stop communities having the ability to foster community empowerment and self-help.
 
The loss of Neighbourhood Planning (NP) and technical support grants is a fundamental shift that risks shattering the core principles of Localism just as they have begun to bear fruit.
 
Without central support:
 
  • Communities and their Town & Parish Councils, with limited budgets, will likely be unable to adequately fund, and provide the technical knowledge, to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan
 
  • Communities in deprived or rural areas - most in need of shaping local growth - will be disproportionately disadvantaged
 
  • Developers will gain disproportionate influence, with local policy-making weakened, at precisely the moment that central and regional planning is being streamlined

The implications are significant:
 
  • End of equitable NP access: Wealthier or better-resourced communities may still produce NPs; others will struggle to start or update them
 
  • Loss of technical advice: this is absolutely critical for navigating environmental assessment requirements, site assessments, and policy compliance — without this, many draft NPs would not meet required basic legal tests. This will have the greatest impact on communities trying to shape their own futures, because common sense and the democratic voice will be significantly muted.
 
  • Organic developments - that would keep the life blood pumping in smaller communities - will now either not be allocated or will be determined strategically where the local voice does not necessarily prevail.
 
  • It totally undermines the Localism (2011) Act’s intent: that communities should have a real say in where and how development happens.

Updates

2025-07-05 10:23:36 +0100

We can do this! 663 signatures........1,000 just 'round the corner'! With a 60m plus population, how hard can this be!?

Thank you for signing; please pass on the link, and keep encouraging others to sign up.

James

2025-07-04 13:43:54 +0100

'Locality's "consultancy service has chartered RTPI planners who are experienced in working with neighbourhood planning groups, community groups and local authorities on a range of plans and development proposals across rural and urban areas. They can help groups think through is neighbourhood planning the best route to achieving their aspirations. If yes, they can help groups to get started and navigate every stage of the statutory process, form securing formal designation of their group and proposed neighbourhood plan area, to consulting with the community and statutory bodies, and getting plans ready for Examination and referendum."

2025-07-03 21:27:30 +0100

600 close by! Keep those signatures coming (please)!

2025-07-02 20:26:08 +0100

551 and climbing! Nice one

2025-07-01 13:13:43 +0100

Anything anyone wants from me, re promoting this cause/ petition....happy to speak virtually to groups etc......just ask
James D

2025-07-01 13:12:53 +0100

517 signatories and climbing :)
Formidable!
James

2025-07-01 09:30:03 +0100

500 signatures reached

2025-06-30 21:39:32 +0100

500 coming! Way to go

20 x 500 = 10,000, and ministerial response, as well as demonstrating mass support for reinstatement of support funding for NPs, and community empowerment - a stated aim of Labour Government policy.....

With your help we can demonstrate mass support....please keep circulating on the petition link, and encouraging friends, relations, networks etc to sign :)

2025-06-30 15:21:42 +0100

Approaching 500! Great stuff......

I am determined to hit 10,000!! And thereby get a ministerial response; and so he can see what a 'brick' Govt have dropped in undercutting neighbourhood planning and empowerment - in suggesting axing support funding to enable NPs....

And the level of public response to push them to think again

2025-06-29 15:53:09 +0100

NPs and the historic environment - case studies
https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/improve-your-neighbourhood/neighbourhood-plan-case-studies/

2025-06-29 10:56:42 +0100

During the English Civil war, petitions were a powerful tool influencing parliamentarians/ decision-makers....lets show that the tradition remains potent! Here ends historical factlet!

Keep going with the signatures (please)

2025-06-27 17:00:37 +0100

Next stop 500.....please keep it going; share the link.
Many, many thanks

Queries - [email protected]

2025-06-27 09:04:30 +0100

400 signatories.....BIG thank you; can we accelerate this - to concentrate the minds of UK policy makers and politicians!?

2025-06-25 19:40:49 +0100

1 of Thousands - Collingham NP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwjykQ5jgsQ

2025-06-24 13:37:48 +0100

By the time I pen this, we should be at 300 signatories....thanks so much for signing....and please keep plugging to those who may not yet have signed up!