Step 1: Define the neighbourhood area and set up a neighbourhood group
The neighbourhood group - which would be either a neighbourhood forum or a parish council (also known as the ‘qualifying body’) will need to decide on the area which best represents your ‘neighbourhood’.
The group needs to apply to the council for it to be formally designated as a neighbourhood area for the purposes of planning. Neighbourhood forums will also need to apply for formal designation.
We encourage neighbourhood groups to contact us at an early stage to discuss the potential applications before they are submitted.
How to apply for a neighbourhood area designation
Fill out the appropriate application form(s) available below and submit these to the city council:
As set out in the application forms, you will need:
- A letter or statement explaining why the area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area and how the group/body making the area application is a ‘relevant body’.
- A map, accurately showing the area to which, the area application relates. The city council can help you with the map but will need sufficient notice to work programme this (approximately 4 weeks is welcomed). The boundary of your proposed Neighbourhood Area should reflect your local neighbourhood or community (e.g. a ward or part of a ward) and must not overlap with any already designated neighbourhood area.
If the neighbourhood area application includes part of the South Downs National Park (which is a separate planning authority) then this should be highlighted. In this case the city council will act as the lead authority and liaise with the South Downs National Park Authority. This approach helps to simplify the process for the community and minimises the duplication of work.
After you apply
The city council will check the application to ensure that it is valid. It will then publicise the application for a minimum of 6 weeks consultation which is the statutory requirement.
As part of the six-week consultation the city council will email required statutory consultees and all other consultees who may have an interest to notify them of the application(s). The city council will make documents available on our website, and in local libraries and other locations as considered appropriate.
At the end of the consultation period, the city council will consider and determine the neighbourhood area and neighbourhood forum applications.
Applications must be determined within 13 weeks of first being publicised (or 20 weeks where the applications are also required to be approved by the South Downs National Park Authority).
The council will aim to designate the area applied for, but if the area is not considered to be appropriate following the consultation, then the council may make amendments to the boundary.