Planning minister unveils £10m boost for neighbourhood plans

Planning minister Greg Clark said that the funding, for the 2012/13 financial year, would help councils ensure their communities are able to finalise neighbourhood plans.

Payments of up to £30,000 will be paid to councils to help them support and advise groups taking forward neighbourhood plans and to pay towards the examination of plans and a local referendum, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said.

The DCLG said that the payments will be made in two stages. The first, of £5,000, will be made once a neighbourhood area has been designated. The second payment of £25,000 will be made on the successful completion of the independent examination of the neighbourhood plan, according to the department.

Clark said: "This fund will give councils and community groups working on plans a big boost in getting their vision in place as soon as possible to ensure people can enjoy the benefits sooner rather than later."

For more information
www.communities.gov.uk/news