Following receipt of the Examiner’s Report, the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations require East Staffordshire Borough Council to:
East Staffordshire Borough Council (with agreement of Denstone Parish Council) appointed Christopher Collison to examine the updated Denstone Neighbourhood Plan. The Examiner conducted the examination through consideration of written representations.
The Examiner's Report has concluded that the Updated Neighbourhood Plan, subject to the recommended modifications, meets the Basic Conditions and should proceed to referendum.
The Examiner wrote to the Borough and Parish Councils setting out how he intended to conduct the Independent Examination:
During the examination, the Examiner determined under Paragraph 10(1) of Schedule A2 to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 that the modifications contained in the proposed updated Denstone Neighbourhood Plan would change the nature of the currently made Neighbourhood Plan. On this basis the Updated Neighbourhood Plan will require a referendum. In accordance with the legislation, the Examiner invited the Parish Council to confirm whether it wished to proceed with the updated Plan or to withdraw it.
To view the Examiner’s letter and the Parish Council’s response please follow the links below:
The Examiner provided an opportunity for the Parish Council to comment on any representations made during the Regulation 16 consultation. To view the Parish Council’s comments, please follow the link below:
The Examiner advised that since the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published on 20 December 2023, does not include any transitional arrangements in respect of the examination of Neighbourhood Plans, then the Updated Denstone Neighbourhood Plan was to be examined in the context of the latest NPPF.
The Examiner provided all interested parties with an opportunity, during a two-week period from 30 January 2024 until 13 February 2024, to comment on whether the Neighbourhood Plan meets the Basic Condition that it is appropriate to make the Plan having regard to national policies as set out in the latest (December 2023) NPPF. To view the Examiner’s letter please follow the link below:
To view responses to the Examiner’s invitation to comment please follow the links below:
Under Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Denstone Parish Council submitted its draft Neighbourhood Development Plan (Neighbourhood Plan) to East Staffordshire Borough Council. In accordance with Regulation 16, the Borough Council invited comments from organisations and individuals on the submitted draft revised Denstone Neighbourhood Plan. This ‘publicity’ consultation period lasted 6 weeks and ran from Friday 27th October 2023 to Monday 18th December 2023.
The revised Denstone Neighbourhood Plan, if approved at examination and (if necessary) at referendum, will replace the Denstone Neighbourhood Plan which was adopted in March 2017.
Denstone Parish Council undertook consultation on an earlier draft of their Plan from 23rd May 2023 to 18th July 2023. Comments made to the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group from this consultation helped inform changes to the document which was submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council.
The Neighbourhood Plan, prepared by Denstone Parish Council together with its Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, proposes a number of policies including: Denstone Settlement Boundary, proposed locations for Housing, Employment and Community Facilities, Design and Heritage, Natural Environment and Landscape, Flooding and Surface Water, and Local Green Spaces.
The Neighbourhood Plan Submission contains the following documents:
To view responses to the Regulation 16 consultation, please follow the links below:
East Staffordshire Borough Council has collated all the responses and forwarded them on to an independent examiner, who will consider the responses and the Plan documents when assessing whether the Neighbourhood Plan meets the relevant legislation and should proceed to referendum.
In accordance with Regulations 19 and 20 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 the Council made (adopted) the Denstone Neighbourhood Plan in February 2017, so it is part of the Development plan for the neighbourhood area.
The Decision Statement (final) and Final made Neighbourhood Plan can be found by clicking the relevant link.
The Denstone Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined earlier this year and the Examiner recommended that, subject to some modifications, the Plan should proceed to Referendum. The Borough Council agrees with the examiner’s report and agreed to progress the Plan to Referendum via an executive Decision on 15th December 2016.
The referendum takes place on Thursday 2nd February 2017. In Denstone the polling station is: Denstone Village Hall.
If you are eligible to vote in Denstone Parish (the neighbourhood area) you will receive a poll card confirming your polling station for this referendum. If you do not receive your poll card please contact the helpline on 01283 508376 or email elections@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.
The Neighbourhood Plan and other ‘Specified Documents’ are available below:
The above documents are also available at Denstone Village Hall, The Tavern Pub, The ex-BT phone box and Denstone Village Shop.
The Denstone Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined by Ann Skippers in October and November 2016. The examiner’s report is available below along with the representations made at Regulation 16 consultation. The Council is now considering the suggested modifications to the plan and will issue a Decision Statement in December.
Under Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Denstone Parish Council has submitted its draft Neighbourhood Development Plan (Neighbourhood Plan) to East Staffordshire Borough Council. In accordance with Regulation 16, the Borough Council would like to invite comments from organisations and individuals on the submitted Neighbourhood Plan. This ‘publicity’ consultation period lasts just over 6 weeks and runs from Tuesday 23rd August to Wednesday 5th October.
Denstone Parish Council undertook consultation on an earlier draft of their Plan, between 22nd April and 6th June 2016. Comments made to the Parish Council from this consultation helped inform changes to the document now submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council. The Neighbourhood Plan, written by a steering group consisting of members from the community and from Denstone Parish Council, proposes a number of policies on heritage, housing and open space, amongst others.
The Neighbourhood Development Plan Submission is split into four main documents:
It is the responsibility of the Borough Council to collate all the representations and pass them on to an independent examiner, who will look at them and the Plan documents when assessing whether the plan meets the legislation and can therefore proceed to referendum.
Hard copies of the plan can be found at:
Denstone Village Hall
The Tavern Pub
Ex telephone box information point
Denstone Village Shop
You can submit comments using this form and returning it either:
By post to: Neighbourhood Planning, Planning Policy, East Staffordshire Borough Council, PO Box 8045, Burton upon Trent, DE14 9LG or
By e-mail to: neighbourhoodplanning@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
If you wish to be notified of the Council’s decision on the plan proposal then please state this in your representation.
Denstone Parish Council underwent Regulation 14 consultation on their draft plan between 22nd April and 6th June 2016.
More information can be found on the Denstone Parish Council website.
The Neighbourhood Plan was designated on 5th February 2014.
Denstone Parish Council has applied to East Staffordshire Borough Council to become a designated Neighbourhood Area as required by section 5 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.
ESBC officially publicised the designation application as required by section 6 of the regulations. The consultation period for designation ran from Friday 29th November 2013 and closed on Friday 23rd January 2014 at 5pm.
The request letter from Denstone Parish Council and the parish boundary map are attached below.
