Neighbourhood Planning

The concept of ‘Neighbourhood Planning’ represents a fundamental change to the planning system. Communities will be able to develop planning policies that will become part of the planning framework for their area and grant planning permission for certain types of new development.

Neighbourhood planning is not led by the local authority. The Localism Act makes it the responsibility of the qualifying body – be it a parish council or Neighbourhood Forum – to initiate and undertake neighbourhood planning within a designated Neighbourhood Area. The local planning authority’s role is to advise, manage and support the process.

Neighbourhood plans must be in line with the City Council’s strategic planning policies (contained within the Core Strategy), and must be about enabling – rather than restricting development.

Neighbourhood Area Applications

The table below indicates those areas where the City Council has received an application to designate a Neighbourhood Area. 

Neighbourhood Area application	Application documents	Consultation start date	Consultation end date
St John's Wood		Coming soon
Soho		Coming soon

If you would like to make any comments in relation to the above applications, you can do so by writing to (or e-mailing) the following address. Please note that comments must be received by the end of the relevant consultation period indicated above.

Address: Neighbourhood Planning, City Planning Delivery Unit, Westminster City Council, 11th Floor East, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP 

E-mail: LDF@westminster.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7641 2503