Frequently asked questions

What can a neighbourhood plan actually do for my community?

A made neighbourhood plan becomes part of the statutory development plan, meaning planning applications in your area have to be decided in line with it, alongside the Authority's own Local Plan. In practice this usually means setting design expectations for new development, protecting valued green spaces, supporting the right kind of small-scale housing or business space, and safeguarding things the community cares about. It gives residents a genuine, legally-binding say in decisions that would otherwise be made by planning officers and committee alone.

Does a neighbourhood plan stop development happening in our area?

No, it does not. National Park status already restricts most large-scale development, and a neighbourhood plan can't override the Authority's own strategic policies or block everything. What it can do is shape how and where appropriate development happens; previously developed sites can still be redeveloped, and small-scale housing, community facilities or business space can still come forward, with the community's own priorities built into how those decisions get made, rather than left entirely to case-by-case judgement.

What happens if our neighbourhood area is partly inside the National Park and partly outside of it?

Several communities in this position already have made plans. In every case, the Peak District National Park Authority and the other local planning authority run the process in parallel: the neighbourhood area is designated jointly by both, the plan is examined once against both authorities' policies together, and residents vote in a single referendum.  Each Authority then formally "makes" the plan in its own committee, which is why you'll sometimes see two slightly different made dates for what is, in every practical sense, one plan.

Do we need a full neighbourhood plan, or would something lighter-touch suit us better?

A full neighbourhood plan is a serious undertaking, and it isn't the only way to have a say. For a very small hamlet, or a community that just wants to flag its priorities without running a multi-year statutory process, other routes are often more proportionate:

• Responding to individual planning applications as they come forward, raising local concerns or supporting proposals where appropriate.
• Taking part in the Authority’s Local Plan review, particularly when it is open for consultation, so that local priorities and concerns can be formally considered.
• Creating a village plan - an informal, community-led statement of local priorities that the Authority can keep on file alongside its own parish-level research. This does not involve the statutory process required for a neighbourhood plan.
• Seeking protection through the Local Plan. For example, Local Green Space designations can be secured through the Local Plan process, so a community does not necessarily need its own neighbourhood plan to pursue this type of protection.

How much work is this, realistically, and how long does it take?

Communities that have completed a neighbourhood plan in the Peak District National Park have typically taken several years from designating their neighbourhood area to a successful referendum; it depends on the size of the plan, how much evidence needs gathering, and how much volunteer time is available. It requires a steering group willing to commit time over the long haul, community engagement at several stages, and working through a fixed sequence of statutory steps (consultation, submission, independent examination, referendum) that can't be shortcut. It's worth deciding as a community, with realistic eyes open, whether that commitment matches what you're trying to achieve; for some communities, one of the lighter-touch options above achieves most of what they actually want.

What funding or support is available?

Government's national grant funding for neighbourhood planning, previously delivered through Locality, ended following the 2025 spending review - there is currently no national grant to apply for, so please don't budget around one. The Peak District National Park Authority can still provide direct planning advice and guidance throughout the process, and the practical how-to guides on this site cover each stage in detail. Beyond that, groups typically fund plan preparation themselves, through the parish precept, or by seeking other grant sources such as the National Lottery Community Fund.

How much will it cost us?

Costs vary hugely depending on the size of your neighbourhood area, how much technical evidence your plan needs, and how much work your volunteers can do themselves versus paying a consultant. Producing a plan largely with volunteer time and the free guidance the Authority provides is realistic for many smaller communities; more ambitious plans, or those covering a larger or more complex area, generally cost more and increasingly rely on the group's own fundraising given the funding position above.

Do we need a parish council to do this, or can a community group take it on?

Usually a parish council leads the process, but where an area has no parish council, or the parish boundary doesn't match the community you want to plan for, a neighbourhood forum can be set up instead, with its own written constitution and open membership.

What's the difference between a neighbourhood plan and neighbourhood development order?

A neighbourhood plan sets policies that guide planning decisions generally. A neighbourhood development order is narrower and more specific; it can grant planning permission automatically for particular types of development the community has already agreed on, without each one needing a separate application. It is a less commonly used route.

Where do we start?

The first step is always designating a neighbourhood area - see how to designate a neighbourhood area.

From there, how to produce a neighbourhood plan sets out the full sequence of stages, and how to set up a neighbourhood forum covers the alternative to a parish council described above.

The Authority's planning policy team is also happy to talk through which route actually fits your community before you commit to one.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your options, please contact the planning policy team at policy@peakdistrict.gov.uk