- Details
Latest Milestones in our journey
Before the Plan can be "made" and used in planning decisions, it has to pass an examination by an independent examiner and then be subject to a local referendum.
Make sure you know what is happening, so you can have your say about what you want to see in Shepton Mallet
Our current aim is to move to formal consultation in May / June 2023
Most recent work on the Neighbourhood Plan
8th November 2022
At a full meeting of the Town Council, the Neighbourhood Plan was agreed for Regulation 14 Consultation. This reflects the large amount of work done by members of the Steering Group since 2014. It may seem a long time, but this is not unusual for neighbourhood planning groups, who have to get to grips with large amounts of information, consult formally and informally with local people, and continually update the plan.
15th September 2022
A few minor amendments are needed before the plan can the formal process of Regulation 14 consultation.
5th September 2022
Following the retirement of Cllr John Parham, who did excellent work as Chair of the Steering Group since his appointment in May 2019, Richard Thomas was elected as the new Chairman. Richard represents the Tadley Acres Residents Group, and is a director of the Tadley Acres (Phase 7) Management Company Ltd.
September 2020
Design Guide produced by Robin Horton and Alan Marter. This is a significant and central document that, once the plan is adopted, developers have to take into account in planning their development. You can download a copy of the design guide in the 'Related Documents' section.
March 2020 - March 2021
Covid Lockdowns and restrictions in UK mean that the steering group met occasionally online. Community engagement was impossible, and work on the plan effecively stopped until the end of the second lockdown.
- Details
Step 1. March 2013
The local authority designated a Neighbourhood Plan Area - in our case, the Civil Parish of Shepton Mallet - and a Steering Group is formed, approved and supported by the Town Council.
Step 2. May 2013 onwards
The Steering Group, made up of local people, undertake an extensive consultation with Businesses, Residents, Community Groups, and others to develop a vision and objectives for the plan.
Step 3. September 2014 onwards
With the help of professional consultants, the Steering Group turn their findings into a set of policies, and develop a set of documents that support and inform their emerging plan.
Step 4.
The Steering Group continue to consult locally as they develop the detail of their plan into a proposal.
Step 5. November 2022
The Steering Group put their proposed plan to the Town Council, asking for approval of the plan to go to a formal, legal consultation known as Regulation 14 consultatiion. The Town Council formally agreed to allow the draft Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to Regulation 14
Step 6. January - May 2023
The Steering Group prepare the plan for Regulation 14 Consultation, where the plan is formally consulted on. The consultees are the local community living in the Neighbourhood Plan Area, the Local Authority (Mendip), surrounding parishes, key stakeholders and statutory consultees.
Step 7. Later in 2023
The Steering Group consider each and every response to the Regulation 14 Consultation, and where appropriate and possible, changes will be made to the Plan to reflect the comments received through Regulation 14 consultation.
Step 8.
The Plan is sent to an independent examiner, who may require the Steering Group to make changes, or approve the plan, following which he or she will pass the plan to proceed to referendum
Step 9.
Once the plan has passed examination, it is put to the town in the form of a referendum. Each person on the electoral roll for Shepton Mallet will be entitled to vote, and for the neighbourhood plan to be adopted it needs to receive a simple majority of one vote; there is no minimum turnout for the referendum.
Step 10.
If the plan receives a majority in the referendum, it becomes a legal document that helps shape planning decisions for the future.
But this isn't the end of the process. Once the plan is 'made', it is regularly reviewed and updated to keep it up to date and relevant, so that it will continue to be a living breathing document that represents the town and supports its aspirations for the future