Neighbourhood planning

Shinfield Parish Council is setting out to produce a neighbourhood development plan, in accordance with the government’s Localism Bill, which hands new rights to local communities.

The neighbourhood plan, once accepted by the Local Planning Authority (LPA, in our case Wokingham Borough Council), has the power to affect the detail of decisions about the new developments that will take place in Shinfield Parish over the next few years.

Under the neighbourhood development plan the local community will be able to influence the type and design of homes, the placing of schools, shops, services, amenities and a whole range of other matters affecting us that will be introduced as part of the new developments. The neighbourhood development plan will build upon the sterling work already encapsulated in the Shinfield Parish Community Plan, which was published and launched at the end of 2011.

The parish council believes that it is essential that we undertake this project simply to ensure our voice is heard. Without a neighbourhood development plan we are entirely dependent on decisions taken by people who do not live here. We think this is wrong. The parish council has already unanimously voted in favour of proceeding with the plan at a recent meeting. WBC has agreed that the plan can be created.

The new plan must reflect the local residents’ views and aspirations and in order to get it agreed through the LPA  the parish council needs to prove that it has involved a wide range of individuals and organisations in the community through a consultation process.

Neighbourhood plan website

The neighbourhood plan has its own website.

Steering group

The parish council has set up a steering group to lead and monitor the creation of the neighbourhood development plan. The members are Cllr Peter Hughes (Chair), Jacqui Barnes, Cllr Ian Clarke, Emma Critchley (WBC), Richard Hatton, Cllr Andrew Grimes, Cllr Mike Gough, David Murray-Cox (Barton Willmore), Cllr Dawn Peer, Jane Sellwood, Ian Tant (Barton Willmore), Josie Wragg (WBC). 

The steering group has produced a project plan brief, a project plan and a budget. The production of these essential documents has revealed that the whole process will take approximately two years. 

To view the Terms of Reference for the steering group click here. 

Focus groups

We have set up a number of focus groups which will investigate and report on specific topics.

To view the Terms of Reference for the focus groups click here.

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