Key Terms Explained

Neighbourhood Forum

A Neighbourhood Forum is an organisation or group empowered to lead the neighbourhood planning process (note – also put a link on the words neighbourhood planning process that links to the What Is Neighbourhood Planning page) in a Neighbourhood Area.

It must be created for the express purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the Neighbourhood Area.

Its membership must be open to all people who live in the Neighbourhood Area, people who work there and to elected members.

Neighbourhood Plan

A document that sets out planning policies for the Neighbourhood Area.

These planning policies are used to decide whether to approve planning applications.

A Neighbourhood Plan is written by the local community, the people who know and love the area, rather than the Local Planning Authority.

It is a powerful tool to ensure the community gets the right type of development in the right place