Current statge
The South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan was adopted in February 2025. It now forms part of our development plan.
All planning decisions in the neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance it, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Key stages in the preparation of the plan
- Neighbourhood area designated by us: 2017 and 2022
- South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum preparing neighbourhood plan
- Pre-submission public consultation: 12 June to 30 July 2023
- Neighbourhood plan submitted to us: 15 April 2024
- Public consultation: 7 May to 18 June 2024
- Neighbourhood plan sent for examination: 26 June 2024
- Referendum: 16 January 2025
- Neighbourhood plan approved: 24 February 2025
Screening determination statement
We and South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum prepared a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment screening determination statement for the draft neighbourhood plan.
The statement sets out our reasons for deciding that the plan is not likely to need a strategic environmental assessment. It also states that the making of the plan is compatible with certain European Union obligations.
Pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14)
South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum carried out a consultation on their pre-submission neighbourhood plan from 12 June to 30 July 2023.
Consultation
South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum submitted its neighbourhood plan and supporting documents to us on 15 April 2024.
A public consultation on the submission version of the neighbourhood plan was carried out between 7 May and 18 June 2024.
The comments received during the Regulation 16 consultation have been published and can be viewed using our online consultation system.
Examination
South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan was submitted for examination on 26 June 2024. The independent examiner appointed to carry out the examination is Andrew Ashcroft.
The clarification note sets out the examiner’s initial comments on the submitted plan and sets out areas where it would be helpful to have some further clarification from the neighbourhood forum.
South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum provided responses to the questions asked by the examiner in his clarification note.
Referendum
The referendum on the South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan took place on Thursday 16 January 2025.
More than half of the votes were in favour of adopting the South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan. We will now work towards doing this.
We will use the plan to help decide planning applications in the South Newnham neighbourhood area.
Our decision statement on the receipt of the examiner’s report and its decision to proceed to referendum, including a statement of satisfaction that the ‘referendum version’ of the neighbourhood plan meets the basic conditions and the legal compliance check.
Making the neighbourhood plan
The South Newnham Neighbourhood Plan was adopted in February 2025. It now forms part of our development plan.
All planning decisions in the neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance it, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.