DCLG consulting on altering deadlines and criteria for neighbourhood plans and other planning rules

DCLG are seeking views on neighbourhood planning proposals which will:

• scrap the 6 week consultation and publicity period before a draft neighbourhood plan is submitted for examination
• local authorities must respond within a statutory time limit of 70 days as whether they will designate an applied for neighbourhood plan area
• scrap requirement that the neighbourhood plan complies with EU environmental rules, replace it with a statement/environmental report, screening opinion or explanation why the plan does not require either of them
• a new statutory requirement to test the extent of the consultation undertaken during the preparation of the NDP, Neighbourhood Development Order or Community Right to build Order 
• a requirement that landowners of allocated sites are consulted in a draft neighbourhood plan

The rest of the consultation concerns:

• proposals to expand permitted development rights,
• four proposals to improve the use of planning conditions and enable development to start more quickly on site after planning permission is granted.
• improving engagement with statutory consultees 
• proposals to raise the environmental impact assessment screening thresholds for industrial estate and urban development projects 
• proposals for making improvements to the nationally significant infrastructure planning regime

 The consultation is here on the DCLG website, they are seeking online responses.