What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
In 2011 the Localism Act gave parish councils the opportunity to prepare Neighbourhood Plans. Neighbourhood planning provides an opportunity for local people to influence the planning and development of the area in which they live and work. It gives the community a real say over local decision making, it can help to achieve goals through the planning system and address the challenges and opportunities facing the future vitality of the parish. Our Plan was originally intended to last until 2030 and provides:
- a shared vision for the parish;
- some broad objectives which we think help to deliver the vision; and
- a set of policies and parish aspirations which will make the vision a reality.
Why does our Neighbourhood Plan matter?
Once adopted, our Neighbourhood Plan becomes part of the official planning rules for Honeybourne. This means:
- Planning applications in our parish must follow our local policies – developers and the council cannot ignore what our community has decided
- Our plan works alongside other planning documents that cover wider areas, including the South Worcestershire plan that sets rules for housing and employment across Worcester, Malvern Hills and Wychavon
- All local plans must follow national planning rules set by the Government
What other planning documents affect Honeybourne?
Our Neighbourhood Plan sits alongside several other planning documents:
- The South Worcestershire Development Plan (the current version is from 2016, but a new updated version is being examined by Government inspectors and should be adopted by late 2025/early 2026)
- Plans for waste disposal across Worcestershire
- Plans for minerals extraction (quarries, etc.)
Recent changes affecting our plan:
Two major changes have happened recently that affect our Neighbourhood Plan:
- New National Planning Rules (December 2024): The Government published updated national planning policies that all local plans must follow. These include new rules about housing targets, infrastructure requirements, and environmental protection.
- New South Worcestershire Plan (coming 2025/26): The updated regional plan will set new targets for housing and employment across our area up to 2041, which our local plan needs to work with.
Honeybourne Neighbourhood Development Plan – Current Status and Review
Honeybourne Parish Council applied to designate the whole of the parish as a Neighbourhood Plan Area in August 2015 and the designation was secured on the 25 September 2015. The Parish Council subsequently successfully bid for funding from the Government to help prepare the Neighbourhood Plan.
This Adopted Version of Honeybourne Neighbourhood Plan was published following the independent examination of the Plan in November 2019 and a successful public referendum in March 2020.
Why We Are Reviewing Our Plan
We are now undertaking a review of our Neighbourhood Plan as it is approaching five years since adoption. This review is necessary due to:
- Changes to National Planning Policy: The Government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December 2024, which introduced significant changes including mandatory housing targets, the reintroduction of five-year housing land supply requirements, new “Grey Belt” designations, and updated policies on affordable housing and infrastructure delivery.
- Emerging Development Plan: The South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) is currently under examination by Government-appointed planning inspectors, with public hearings that began in March 2025. The SWDPR is expected to be adopted by the end of 2025 or early 2026, providing an updated planning framework for development across South Worcestershire up to 2041.
- Policy Alignment: We need to ensure our local policies remain consistent with both the updated NPPF 2024 and the emerging SWDPR to maintain the plan’s effectiveness in guiding development decisions.
- Five-Year Protection: Under the revised NPPF, neighbourhood plans that allocate housing sites benefit from protection against speculative development for five years from their adoption date. Our plan currently benefits from this protection until March 2025.
The Plan was produced on behalf of the Parish Council by a small dedicated Steering Group, made up of residents and Parish Councillors under the guidance of planning consultants Brodie Planning Associates (BPA), to turn community concerns and aspirations into a binding planning document that can be used to inform future development in the parish of Honeybourne.
Our Review Process
The review will consider:
- Alignment with the NPPF 2024 requirements, including new policies on sustainable development, housing delivery, and infrastructure provision
- Consistency with the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan Review policies and site allocations
- Updated evidence on local housing needs, employment requirements, and infrastructure capacity
- Community priorities and aspirations for the period beyond 2030
- Environmental considerations including climate change adaptation and biodiversity net gain requirements
The reviewed Plan, once adopted, will continue to be used in all planning decisions by the Local Planning Authority and Planning Inspectors, providing local control over development in Honeybourne parish while supporting the delivery of sustainable growth across South Worcestershire.
Next Steps
We will be engaging with the community throughout the review process to ensure the updated plan continues to reflect local priorities while meeting national and regional planning requirements. Details of consultation opportunities will be published on this website and through our usual communication channels.
Neighbourhood Plan Meetings Documents
You are browsing Agendas and Minutes for the year 2025
