NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

The UK Government has given more power to the local people through the Localism Act. This Act has introduced new permissive rights for local communities to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan.

What is the Tempsford Neighbourhood Plan

Tempsford is special and development within it must reflect the views and wishes of local people. Our Neighbourhood Plan sets out spatial and land-use policies for the two parts of the village and the wider parish beyond. It will be a formal planning document that will sit alongside the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan, adding a local dimension. It will be used to determine planning applications within Tempsford.

The Plan was developed by a Steering Group made up of volunteers and Parish Councillors and has sought community views to understand how Tempsford Parish might develop over the next 15-20 years in a sustainable way that preserves the character, landscape setting and identity of our Parish, whilst ensuring we have the facilities and services that we need.

What does this mean?

Tempsford Parish Council is taking the first step in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for the Parish. Through a Neighbourhood Plan our community would be able to influence the planning for our village. The process will take around 18 months and will follow a number of steps through to a final referendum where the villagers themselves will be given the simplest of options to either adopt or reject the adoption of the Neighbourhood Plan. A simple majority is all that is required.

What does the Neighbourhood Plan include?

To achieve this vision we have created a number of planning policies and associated actions which include:

Housing and Design: We are not allocating additional sites for development in the Plan. Instead, our focus is to ensure that any development coming forward is directed to the places that have the lowest impact on our landscape, environment and infrastructure. We want to make sure that new development is in-keeping with the character locally and volunteers have put together a Character Assessment to sit alongside the Plan that sets out the aspects of local character that should be protected and enhanced. Development should be designed to the highest standards - including ensuring it is environmentally friendly and reduces energy consumption.

Community Infrastructure: The facilities we have provide an important lifeline for our community and it is vital that these are safeguarded, improved, and where necessary, expanded to meet the changing needs of our residents. In particular we want to raise the standard of facilities for our young people and children.

Employment: We want to provide the right conditions to enable people to work effectively in the parish, including from home and are therefore pressing for improved broadband accessibility and speed. In addition, we want to protect the recently closed public house in Tempsford which could provide not only employment but also important spaces for our community to meet and socialise.

Transport and Movement: Whilst we are supporting additional public car parking, we want to make it easier for residents and visitors to walk and cycle to, within and between the village centres as well as to neighbouring communities. Our policies will ensure that our rights of way are well maintained and accessible to all.

Environment and Countryside: We value highly our green spaces and countryside and we are designating six spaces are 'Local Green Spaces', which will safeguard them for recreation and wildlife for future generations. In addition we want to enable locals to grow their own produce, through the provision of additional growing spaces.