Camden has formally begun a public consultation on the revised Hampstead Neighbourhood Plan. The Forum submitted the Plan in July. Camden’s consultation is the next prescribed step in the process.
At the same time, the Borough is holding a consultation about the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum’s application for redesignation. This must be done by all such bodies every five years. The Forum won initial approval at its foundation in 2014 and this was renewed in 2019.
All the relevant documents are displayed here on Camden’s website. The same page gives details of how to comment. Comments must be received by 8 October 2024.
Setting out the next steps, Camden says:
’Subject to the Forum being redesignated, the revised Neighbourhood Plan will proceed to an independent examination. Having considered the submitted representations, the appointed Examiner will determine whether the Plan meets the relevant legislation and regulations.
If the Examiner finds that the revised Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions and determines that a referendum is required, the Council will arrange a referendum of local residents to ask whether the revised Plan should be used in making decisions on planning applications in the designated Hampstead neighbourhood area.
The Council will consider any representations regarding the redesignation application. The redesignation of the Forum will be subject to a Single Member Decision by the Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden. If approved, the Forum will be able to continue using neighbourhood planning powers for a further five years.’
As required by law, in drafting the Plan, the Forum consulted widely over the past two years, including public meetings, columns in the press and a survey seeking comments on the draft that was circulated to all homes in the Plan area. All comments were taken into account in submitting the final draft.