Neighbourhood planning

To prevent overlap, only one neighbourhood forum can be appointed in each neighbourhood area. This means a neighbourhood forum will need to identify a precise boundary for the area they intend to represent.

Neighbourhood areas should be aligned with the '16 places' approach in the Croydon Local Plan which is based on a series of identified neighbourhoods:

• Norbury
• Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood
• Thornton Heath
• South Norwood and Woodside
• Broad Green and Selhurst
• Waddon
• Croydon
• Addiscombe
• Shirley
• Selsdon
• South Croydon
• Purley
• Sanderstead
• Coulsdon
• Kenley and Old Coulsdon

Designating a neighbourhood area

Alongside the responsibility to determine applications for neighbourhood forums, we also have the power to designate neighbourhood areas in line with the 4 stages set out below.

Stage 1 - Is the application for designation of a neighbourhood area valid?

The application must comply with the following:

1. It is from a relevant body

2. The application includes:

• a map which identifies the area to which the area application relates
• a statement explaining why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood Area, and
• a statement that the organisation or body making the area application is a relevant body for the purposes of section 61(G) of the Town and Country Planning Act.

We may decline to consider an area application if the relevant body has already made an area application and a decision has not yet been made on that application.

Stage 2 - publicity

As soon as possible after receiving an area application from a relevant body, the council must publicise (for a minimum of 6 weeks) details on their website and in such other manner as they consider is likely to bring the area application to the attention of people who live, work or carry on business in the area to which the area application relates.

Stage 3 - consideration of the application and representations and determination, with reasons

This stage also requires a consideration as to whether all or part of the area to which the application relates should be designated as a business area. An area may only be designated as a business area if that area is wholly or predominantly business in nature. In considering this aspect, regard will need to be had to regulations, yet to be published, which deal with designation as a business area.

The council must exercise their power of designation so as to ensure that some or all of the specified area forms part of one or more areas designated (or to be designated) as neighbourhood areas. 

Stage 4 - publicising a designation of a neighbourhood area

If approved, as soon as possible after designating a neighbourhood area, a local planning authority must publish (in the same manner as in Stage 2):

• the name of the neighbourhood area
• a map which identifies the area, and
• the name of the relevant body who applied for the designation.

If refused, as soon as possible after deciding to refuse to designate a neighbourhood area, a local planning authority must publish (in the same manner as in Stage 2):

• a document setting out the decision and a statement of their reasons for making that decision ("the decision document"), and
• details of where and when the decision document may be inspected.