Neighbourhood planning

Applications for neighbourhood areas and information

Neighbourhood planning allows communities to come together to have more of a say on the future of the places where they live and work. There is a legal framework to produce a neighbourhood plan and this includes the need to formally designate a neighbourhood planning area, undertake formal consultation, independent examination and pass a local referendum.

If successful, the neighbourhood plan becomes part of the statutory development plan and will be used in making planning decisions (alongside other documents including the local plan).

Within the local planning authority area of North Devon, only parish councils can apply to designated a neighbourhood planning area. Further details on the designation process are available from the Planning Policy team by emailing localplan@northdevon.gov.uk

Made Plans

The following neighbourhood plans have been formally ‘made’ part of the development plan for North Devon:

Proposals for development within these areas should be considered against the policies in the relevant neighbourhood plan, alongside policies in the Local Plan, national planning policies, and other material considerations.

Designated Neighbourhood Planning Areas

The following parishes have designated neighbourhood planning areas:

Areas designated so far: 

  • Ashford Parish Council - application (374 KB) map (5,352 KB). In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) North Devon Council advises that it designated Ashford Parish as a Neighbourhood Area on 25 July 2017. The extent of the area is the whole area of the parish, as shown in the map contained in the application. The Relevant Body who applied for this area to be designated was Ashford Parish Council
  • Barnstaple Town Council - application and map (371 KB), notice of area designation (399 KB)
  • Bratton Fleming Parish Council - application (200 KB), map (15,900 KB),notice of area designation (603 KB)
  • Fremington Parish Council - application (1,014 KB), map (14,026 KB), notice of area designation (577 KB)
  • Goodleigh Parish Council - application and map (pdf 5 MB), notice of area designation (pdf 208 KB)
  • Heanton Punchardon Parish Council - application and map (1 MB). In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) North Devon Council advises that it designated Heanton Punchardon Parish as a Neighbourhood Area on 9 November 2016. The extent of the area is the whole area of the parish, as shown in the map contained in the application. The Relevant Body who applied for this area to be designated was Heanton Punchardon Parish Council
  • Ilfracombe Town Council - application and map (17,236 KB), notice of area designation (187 KB)
  • Instow Parish Council - application and map (647 KB), notice of area designation (722 KB) 
  • Landkey Parish Council - application and map (1 MB). In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) North Devon Council advises that it designated Landkey Parish as a Neighbourhood Area on 10 March 2017. The extent of the area is the whole area of the parish, as shown in the map contained in the application. The Relevant Body who applied for this area to be designated was Landkey Parish Council
  • Mortehoe Parish Council - application (475 KB) map (5 MB). In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) North Devon Council advises that it designated Mortehoe Parish as a Neighbourhood Area on 29 January 2018. The extent of the area is the whole area of the parish, as shown in the map contained in the application. The Relevant Body who applied for this area to be designated was Mortehoe Parish Council
  • South Molton Town Council - application and map (770 KB). In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) North Devon Council advises that it designated South Molton Parish as a Neighbourhood Area on 18 January 2017. The extent of the area is the whole area of the parish, as shown in the map contained in the application. The Relevant Body who applied for this area to be designated was South Molton Town Council

Map of parishes with a Neighbourhood Plan