Introduction
Braunton Parish Council has prepared a neighbourhood plan for their parish. You can find details of the neighbourhood plan and its progression to being "made" (the neighbourhood planning term for adoption) by North Devon Council below.
Neighbourhood Plan Status
As a result of a ‘yes’ vote at the referendum held in the parish on 7 September the Plan now forms part of the development plan for the Braunton parish. This means the policies in the plan will be given full weight when assessing planning applications that affect land covered by the plan.
The referendum version of the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan
On the 4 October 2023 North Devon Council have decided to formally “make” the Braunton Parish Neighbourhood Plan. Therefore the plan now forms part of the Development Plan for North Devon planning authority area and the policies will be given full weight when assessing planning applications that affect land covered by the plan.
The decision statement can be read below.
Braunton Neighbourhood Plan decision statement
Referendum
The Braunton Neighbourhood Plan has passed through examination and was subject to a referendum of eligible residents to decide whether it should progress to be 'made' on 7 September 2023. The result of the referendum was 90.1% of residents who voted were in favour of adopting the Plan.
Declaration of Result - Braunton Parish Neighbourhood Plan Referendum
The following documents are published in support of the referendum on the neighbourhood plan:
Statement of General Information
Braunton Neighborhood Plan Information Statement
Braunton Parish Neighbourhood Area map
Post Examination Consideration
The examination of the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan concluded that, subject to the acceptance of the recommendations put forward by the examiner, the Neighbourhood Plan can proceed to referendum. A report was presented to a meeting of the Full Council of North District Council on 19 July 2023 to consider the recommendations of the examiner, the reasons for them, determine whether to accept them and whether therefore the neighbourhood plan can proceed to referendum. The Council accepted the recommendations of the examiner and the associated reasons, concluding that the neighbourhood plan meets all of the statutory requirements and that it can proceed to referendum. The formal Decision Statement setting out the decision on this matter can be downloaded below, along with the General Statement of Information, Braunton Neighbourhood Plan Information Statement and the Braunton Parish Neighbourhood Area map:
Braunton Neighbourhood Plan Decision Statement
Independent Examination of Braunton Parish Neighbourhood Plan
Following completion of the Regulation 16 consultation North Devon District Council appointed an Independent Examiner. This appointment marked the start of the examination period.
The appointed examiner was Andrew Ashcroft of Andrew Ashcroft Planning Ltd. Mr Ashcroft is a NPIERS-registered examiner.
Details of the examination arrangements are in the document below.
Regulation 16 Consultation
The Regulation 16 Consultation ran from 12 December 2022 to 6 February 2023 and was conducted by North Devon District Council.
The documents below confirm the Neighbourhood Plan meets the statutory requirements and detail the Regulation 16 consultation period and how representations could be made in respect of the Neighbourhood Plan.
The responses received during the Regulation 16 consultation are detailed below.
Heanton Punchardon Parish Council response
Marine Management Organisation response
South West Coast Path Association response
North Devon Council Regulation 16 Representations
Submission of Neighbourhood Plan and Consultation
Braunton Parish Council, as the relevant qualifying body, submitted the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan proposal to North Devon Council in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) on 14 November 2022. The submission documents and comment forms are available below. (Please note that all links direct to an external website. The council cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites.)
Parts 1 & 2 Introduction & Aims
Part 3 Natural Environment
Part 4 Built Environment
Part 5 Economy
Part 6 Housing
Part 7 Appendix & Glossary
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) & Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Screening Report
Braunton Neighbourhood Plan Area Design Codes and Guidelines
Local Green Space Supporting Document
Additional Evidence Base
Braunton Parish Local Insight Report (2021)
Devon Biodiversity Record Centre Parish Report
Devon Biodiversity Record Centre Strategic Nature Areas
Taw Torridge Coastal Change Management Area 2020 - Braunton (CCMA)
North Devon Catchment Flood Management Plan 2012
Environment Agency Taw and North Devon Streams
Further Information
For further information on their Neighbourhood Development Plan please see the Braunton Parish Council website (This links to an external website. The council cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites).