Following the formal examination of the NDP completed in March 2020, the modifications recommended by the independent Examiner and accepted by Herefordshire Council have been applied to the Allensmore Neighbourhood Development Plan; the latest version of the plan is here.
Herefordshire Council published their Delegated Decision Statement on 31st March 2020 recommending the Neighbourhood Development Plan progresses to referendum.
However, regulations linked to the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that no elections or referendums can take place until 6th May 2021. Herefordshire Council have confirmed that our referendum will take place on 6th May 2021 “unless otherwise specified by UK Government in further legislation”. Click here for Herefordshire Council’s notice. This is frustrating for communities like ours that have dedicated significant time and effort to the neighbourhood planning process and want their plans to come into force as soon as possible. With this in mind, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have updated current planning guidance to set out that neighbourhood plans awaiting referendums can be given significant weight in decision-making.