A Basic Conditions Statement and Consultation Statement are required alongside the neighbourhood plan when submitting the document for Regulation 16 consultation to the Council. Read more about Consultation Statements here.
A Basic Conditions Statement explains how the plan meets the requirements of the neighbourhood plan Basic Conditions[1]. The Basic Conditions can be summarised as follows:
· having regard to national policy
· in general conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan
· contribute to the achievement of sustainable development
· preserve and enhance the historic environment
· compatible with human rights requirements
· compatible with EU obligations.
The basic conditions require a different level of assessment between national and local planning policy. For national policies and advice, neighbourhood plans are only required to ‘have regard’ to their content, therefore referencing and relating appropriately to relevant national policy and guidance. For local planning policy, neighbourhood plans are required to be ‘in general conformity’ with strategic policies, therefore complying, agreeing, and seeking similar outcomes as local strategic planning policies.
The Statement should begin by clarifying which adopted and emerging local planning policies are considered strategic and outlining how the overarching legal requirements of a Neighbourhood Plan are met. The Statement should then review each Neighbourhood Plan objective and policy to consider how they meet the requirements of the basic conditions. The Statement also needs to confirm the neighbourhood plan does not breach and is compatible with EU obligations, and meets all prescribed conditions.
At independent examination, the examiner will assess, among other matters[2], whether the neighbourhood plan has met the Basic Conditions.
How we can help
DAC Planning provides specialist neighbourhood planning support.
For a discussion on how we can assist you, please get in touch with the team:
admin@dacplanning.com / 01206 259281
This information is for general informative purposes only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, DAC Planning accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from its use.
[1] Paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as applied to neighbourhood plans by section 38A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
[2] Paragraph 8 of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as applied to neighbourhood plans by section 38A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
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