Ilkley Neighbourhood Development Plan (Regulation 16) July 2021
2. Why prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for Ilkley?
2.1. Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs) are a relatively new part of the statutory development planning system. Local authorities including CBMDC can produce development plans, such as the Core Strategy. These plans promote, guide and control development of housing, businesses, open spaces and other uses of land. By preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan town councils can also play a part in this process.
2.2. The INDP will give local people more say on the future development of the area. We can say this because NDPs have the following benefits:
- NDPs are part of the development plan and carry what is known as "statutory weight" when planning decisions are made.
- NDPs give local people the final say on the plan for the area through a referendum.
- NDPs can bring a financial benefit to an area. CBMDC have introduced a levy on future development called the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Without a NDP the Town Council would receive 15% of any CIL collected in the area (£100 per sq. m. of any new residential development; £50 per sq. m. for any large supermarket). If we have a finalised INDP we receive 25% of any CIL collected in the area. With many new homes proposed in Ilkley in the future, this could be a significant sum.
2.3. The INDP has been prepared by a working group of town councillors and experienced volunteers including members of the Ilkley Design Statement Group, Ilkley Civic Society, Ben Rhydding Action Group and Climate Action Ilkley. It has been prepared following a procedure set by government. This has included consulting with the local community through household surveys, public drop-in sessions, public meetings and statutory consultations, analysing evidence, carrying out technical studies and responding to CBMDC's Core Strategy consultations.
2.4. A public meeting to publicise the start of the neighbourhood plan process and to engage local people was held in November 2014. Over 180 people attended this event and took part in six discussion groups (Life in Ilkley, Housing, Employment, Transport and Parking, Facilities and Infrastructure and Environment). Following this event the Let's Talk About Ilkley Questionnaire Survey was carried out from December 2014 to March 2015. It was completed by 1,015 respondents and proved an invaluable source of information for the development of the INDP.
2.5. A Preferred Option Draft INDP was prepared and was published for 2 weeks of informal consultation between 27th October 2017 and 13th November 2017. Based on this consultation the working group clarified the key issues to be addressed in the INDP.
- Provision of new sustainable housing
- Protection of key community facilities
- Protection and enhancement of key environmental assets such as heritage and landscape; especially minimising the loss of local Green Belt
- Sustainability and climate change; ensuring development is sustainable and supports the transition to a zero carbon future in a changing climate
- Car parking, traffic, vehicle use and public transport
- Maintaining Ilkley's role as a destination for shopping and tourism
- Supporting economic growth
- Ensuring Ilkley is a place that is accessible and inclusive
2.6. The Regulation 14 Draft of the INDP was prepared in accordance with the guidance for the statutory formal Regulation 14 public consultation. This took place in two six-week phases: 7th November 2019 to 19th December 2019 and 18th February 2020 until 30th March 2020. During this time three public drop-in sessions and a public meeting were held. Taken together both phases resulted in 119 responses from members of the public, local community groups and statutory bodies. These responses were generally supportive with a number of helpful suggestions being made. The INDP was further strengthened to address the significant number of comments requesting more ambitious standards in relation to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. However this is still an area where the Town Council and many respondents would like to go further than the current national and district legislation allows.
2.7. The full details of our consultation strategy can be found in the Consultation Statement accompanying this document.
2.8. The Ilkley Neighbourhood Development Plan (INDP) is concerned with land use planning and development. Many of the planning issues of Ilkley are addressed in the policies of this plan. However some key planning issues, for example housing numbers and binding zero carbon development standards will result from, or be resolved by, decisions taken outside of the town and are beyond the powers of the Town Council or this plan to change. However the Town Council's approach within the INDP is to work to shape and guide planning decisions in a way that local people want.
2.9. Due to the strict limits on the scope of neighbourhood plans the working group saw the need for a wider vision for the town based on tackling the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. The Ilkley Sustainability Plan (ISP) was commissioned in November 2018 by the Ilkley Neighbourhood Development Plan working group of IIkley Town Council. The ISP has areas of overlapping interest and influence with the INDP however it cannot be taken into account in CBMDC assessment of planning applications in Ilkley. Drafting of the ISP was led by Climate Action Ilkley and the IlkIey Clean River Campaign with contributions from Friends of IIkley Moor, Wharfedale Naturalists and Wharfedale Tackles Plastic. The ISP has been subject to two public consultations in parallel with the INDP. The provisional aims and actions of the ISP have the support of many local groups and members of the local community.
2.10. Ilkley Town Council declared a 'Climate Emergency' on 2 December 2019. The Town Council has pledged to do everything within its power to make Ilkley carbon neutral by 2030. The Town Council requires all its decision making and policies to have regard to its Climate Emergency Declaration including the Ilkley Neighbourhood Development Plan.
2.11. The Town Council recognises individuals cannot be expected to reduce carbon emissions on their own. Society needs leadership at international, national and local level. Ilkley Town Council is calling on the UK Government to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible, noting the Climate Change Act 2008, the recommendations of the Independent Committee on Climate Change, the 1 May 2019 declaration of a Climate Emergency by the House of Commons and the 12 June 2019 amendment of the Climate Change Act that commits the UK to achieving 'net zero greenhouse gases' by 2050.
2.12. Ilkley Town Council recognises the need to support the town in developing even greater resilience to meet the significant challenges, and opportunities, encountered through the COVID-19 pandemic