Neighbourhood planning Information for Voters

The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 Regulation 4 (3b) Specified Document (v)

General information about town and country planning (including neighbourhood planning) and the referendum

On Thursday 4^th May 2023 there will be a referendum on a Neighbourhood Plan for Breadsall Parish.

This statement explains more about the planning system, neighbourhood planning and how you can take part in the referendum.

The Town and Country Planning System

The purpose of the planning system is to help achieve sustainable development. This means deciding what gets built and where so that places can grow for homes, businesses and new technologies, without detriment to future generations and in a way that respects and protects the natural and historic environment. Without a planning system everyone could construct buildings or use land in any way they wanted, no matter what effect this would have on other people, or the landscape.

Most new buildings, major changes to existing buildings or major changes to the local environment need planning permission. In Breadsall, Erewash Borough Council is responsible for deciding whether (most forms of) development should go ahead. Decisions are based on the National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Practice Guidance, and the Local Plan.

National Planning Policy Framework

This provides guidance from Central Government to local planning authorities on how Local Plans should be drawn up and how decisions about planning applications should be made. See www.gov.uk

The Development Plan

A development plan is a set of documents that contain policies for the development and use of land in a local planning area.

The Development Plan in Breadsall

The development plan in Breadsall is the Erewash Core Strategy (Adopted 2014). See erewash-core-strategy

Neighbourhood Planning

What is neighbourhood planning?

Neighbourhood planning was introduced under the 2011 Localism Act and enables local communities to write a Neighbourhood Plan – part of the statutory development plan – for their own area. Neighbourhood Plans must have regard to national planning policy, contribute to sustainable development, be in general conformity with strategic policies in the development plan for the area and be compatible with European Union obligations and human rights requirements.

Who makes Neighbourhood Plans?

Neighbourhood Plans are prepared by town or parish councils or neighbourhood forums.

How are they made?

There is a statutory process that must be followed. The plan must be prepared in consultation with local residents and businesses. An independent examiner checks that it meets legal requirements, reports whether any modifications should be made and recommends whether it should proceed to referendum.

The referendum asks residents to consider whether the local planning authority should use the neighbourhood plan to help it decide planning applications in the area concerned. All those registered to vote within the neighbourhood area are entitled to vote in the referendum.

What status do plans have?

If more than half of those voting have voted in favour of the neighbourhood plan, the local planning authority must make it part of the development plan (see above) for the area to be used in determining decisions on planning applications.

Breadsall Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2029

A draft plan was prepared by Breadsall Neighbourhood Plan Group on behalf of Breadsall Parish Council, in consultation with local residents and businesses, and submitted to Erewash Borough Council in March 2019. An independent examiner found that the plan, subject to modifications, met all the necessary legal requirements and could proceed to referendum.

If you would like to read the Act and the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations you can see them here:

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 webpage

The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 webpage

The Referendum

A referendum on Breadsall Neighbourhood Plan will be held on Thursday 4^th May 2023. The question that will be asked in the referendum is:

Do you want Erewash Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Breadsall to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

The neighbourhood plan for Breadsall is the submission version of the plan that contains the modifications recommended by the independent examiner.

The referendum area is identified on the map at the end of this report. It is identical to Breadsall Neighbourhood Area (and Breadsall Parish.)

A person is entitled to vote in the referendum, if on Monday 17^th April 2023

the person is entitled to vote in a local government election in the referendum area; and
the person’s qualifying address for the election is in the referendum area

A person’s qualifying address is, in relation to a person registered in the register of electors, the address in respect of which he or she is entitled to be registered.

A copy of the specified documents, that is those documents listed below, may be viewed as follows:

On-line at: Breadsall Referendum page

In person at:

Erewash Borough Council

Long Eaton Town Hall, Derby Road Long Eaton NG10 1HU (Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm)

Ilkeston Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, DE7 5RP (Mon to Fri 9am – 4pm)

Or by emailing the Breadsall Plan Group at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The specified documents are:

Breadsall Neighbourhood Plan (Referendum Version)
The report of the Independent Examiner
A summary of the representations submitted to the independent examiner
A statement by the local planning authority that the draft plan meets the basic conditions and complies with the relevant legislation
This statement that sets out general information as to town and country planning (including neighbourhood planning) and the referendum

Voting Procedure

Am I registered to vote?

You have to be registered to vote no later than Monday 17^th April 2023 in order to vote in the referendum.

You can check if you are registered to vote by contacting The Electoral Registration Officer at Erewash Borough Council, Town Hall, Ilkeston DE7 5RP 0115 9071190

You can register to vote on-line at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or contact Erewash Borough Council on 0115 9071190

Ways of Voting

In person on 4^th May 2023

Most people will vote in person at Breadsall . A member of staff will help you if you are not sure what to do.

You will receive a polling card and the Polling station is open from 7am to 10pm
You will need to take ID to the Polling Station to vote
If you do not receive your poll card by Friday 7^th April 2023, contact Erewash Borough Council on 0115 9071190

If you are unable to go to the polling station in person you can apply to vote by post or appoint someone to vote as a proxy on your behalf.

By post

Existing postal voters who receive a postal vote for local government elections will automatically receive one for the referendum. Those requiring a postal vote should contact Erewash Borough Council on 0115 9071190 to request an application form. The deadline for receiving applications is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April. Postal votes will be dispatched around Tuesday 18 April 2023 and must be returned before 10pm on Thursday 4 May 2023. If you are given a postal vote you will not be able to vote in person at the polling station although you may, if you wish, hand your postal vote to the Presiding Officer at the polling station.

By proxy

Existing proxy voters who receive a proxy vote for local government elections will automatically receive one for the referendum. Those requiring a proxy vote should contact Erewash Borough Council on or email to request an application form. The deadline for receiving applications is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

If you appoint a proxy you can still vote in person at the polling station but only if you get there before your proxy has voted on your behalf.

You cannot vote as a proxy for more than 2 people unless you are their spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild.

Emergency proxy

If after 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023 you are unable to vote in person because you:

have a medical emergency
cannot go to the polling station because of work reasons

You can apply to vote by proxy. Completed application forms must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer, Erewash Borough Council, Town Hall, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 5RP by 5pm on Thursday 4 May 2023. Please contact Erewash Borough Council on 0115 907 1190 if you require an emergency proxy.