A Community-led plan process brings communities together to think about what change is needed, highlighting the skills and resources already available, as well as identifying the gaps and the support required from others to make it happen.

Creating an action plan helps communities to take realistic and concrete steps towards the change they want to see. 

What is a Community-led plan?

Community-led plans can cover anything which the community thinks is important. They can also be known as a Parish plan. These may include:

• extra litter bins
• community notice boards and websites
• affordable housing
• transport

They consult with communities to create an action plan, with steps for how this can be achieved. There are no statutory rules governing its preparation.   

The average cost to create a Community-led plan is £3,000. Please visit our grants and funding page for more information and support.

This does not require a referendum.

What is Neighbourhood planning?

In areas where communities have an interest in planning, for example: where buildings should go and what they look like, or where open spaces should be protected - they could consider Neighbourhood Planning.

Neighbourhood planning is a community-led initiative giving local communities power to prepare a planning document that will be part of the statutory development plan for the district. This can be used in deciding planning applications for a local area.

There are national regulations setting out how to prepare a neighbourhood plan. It is led by the parish council with support from the local planning authority.

The plan must be subject to 2 formal public consultations. An examination is carried out by an independent examiner which we pay for. If successful, at examination the plan will be put to a referendum in the local area. If the vote is in favor it will be made (adopted) by us.

Grants are available of up to £10,000 per plan. If a site is allocated in the plan or other criteria met, then an additional £8000 is available. The average cost of Neighbourhood planning is said to be £13,000.

Cambridgeshire ACRE and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning can provide support and advice on Neighbourhood Planning and other options available to communities.

Both processes involve community consultation, and a Community-Led Plan can form a good foundation for a Neighbourhood Plan

Principles

There are 3 core principles that define a Community-led plan and make it different from other methods of community engagement:

• plans are owned, managed and led by the community
• everyone in the community should have an opportunity to get involved and have their say
• actions are based on evidence and address a range of different issues important to your community.