Section 2: The Planning Policy Context (Reg 15)

2.1 National Planning Policy

The Hoe Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024). Paragraphs 30 and 31 state:

“Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to develop a shared vision for their area. Neighbourhood plans can shape, direct and help to deliver sustainable development, by influencing local planning decisions as part of the statutory development plan. Neighbourhood plans should not promote less development than set out in the strategic policies for the area or undermine those strategic policies. 

Once a neighbourhood plan has been brought into force, the policies it contains take precedence over existing non-strategic policies in a local plan covering the neighbourhood area, where they are in conflict; unless they are superseded by strategic or non-strategic policies that are adopted subsequently.”

2.2 Local Planning Policy

2.2.1  
Neighbourhood development plans are required to be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Planning Authority’s Local Plan (Development Plan). The Local Planning Authority for the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan is Plymouth City Council. The Plan has been developed to be in conformity with the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan 2014-2034, and the plan period has been set to align with that of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan.

2.2.2        
The Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan envisions Plymouth and South West Devon in 2034 as a highly successful sub-region (p 11).  The vision for the city of Plymouth is to “be one of Europe’s most vibrant waterfront cities, where an outstanding quality of life is enjoyed by everyone and where the following outcomes have been met:

• Plymouth's strategic role is fulfilled as a regional city and a major economic driver for the heart of the south west. 
• Plymouth as a healthy city, where our people live in happy, healthy, safe and aspiring communities.
• Plymouth as a growing city, where we have used our economic, social, environmental and cultural strengths to deliver quality and sustainable growth.
• Plymouth as an international city, renowned as the UK’s premier marine city and famous for its waterfront, maritime heritage and culture.”

2.2.3        
The Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan sets out strategic priorities for Plymouth and South West Devon up to 2034, including two specific policies for sites within the Hoe Neighbourhood Area – PLY27 and PLY28.  The Hoe Neighbourhood Plan takes the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan strategic priorities, builds on and refines them for specific use in the context of the Hoe area.

2.2.4        
The Hoe Neighbourhood Plan has also been prepared in accordance with all relevant primary and secondary legislation – principally Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Localism Act 2011, and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 – to ensure that it comprises a set of policies that are procedurally sound in their preparation and in conformity with the aims, objectives, and policies of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan 2014-2034. The Hoe Neighbourhood Plan therefore meets the ‘basic conditions’, which in summary require neighbourhood development plans to:

• Have regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State
• Demonstrate that they continue to offer protection to any buildings or landscapes of value
• Contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development
• Be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Planning Authority development plan
• Demonstrate compliance with all relevant EU obligations

The compliance of the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan with the tests set out above is demonstrated within the Basic Conditions Statement.

2.3 Plan Period, Monitoring and Implementation

2.3.1        
The Hoe Neighbourhood Plan sets out the development vision, objectives, and policies for the Hoe Neighbourhood Area until 2034.

2.3.2        
Section 6: Implementation and Monitoring sets out how progress towards the vision and objectives will be measured; how the effectiveness of the policies will be monitored; and how the projects contained within the non-statutory sections of the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan will be implemented during the plan period. Work will also continue with Plymouth City Council to ensure that monitoring is transparent in informing the wider picture for Plymouth.

2.4 Community Involvement

2.4.1        
As a reflection of the original intent for the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan to be a community-led plan, the process has involved the community from the very beginning. The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum commissioned a local consultation to set the initial direction for the plan and its policies. Following this consultation, five sub-groups were established and volunteers for each were sought from the Forum membership. The Forum then commissioned a Neighbourhood Plan Coordinator to organise the work of the sub-groups in the development of the Plan’s policies.

2.4.2        
The sub-groups focused on different areas of interest within the overall remit of sustainable development for the Hoe Neighbourhood Area with the over-arching objective of reaching as wide a representation of community interests as possible. The key themes that emerged throughout the engagement and consultation of the local community were, and remain:

• Heritage and design
• Blue and green environments
• Pedestrians and transport
• Housing
• Culture, economy and tourism

2.4.3        
Alongside the ongoing work of the sub-groups, three rounds of wider community consultation were undertaken focusing on:

• Identifying issues used to generate preferred policy options
• The preferred policy options developed by the sub-groups
• The draft plan, prior to submission to Plymouth City Council

2.4.4        
Residents and businesses in the Hoe Neighbourhood Area were consulted throughout the process, and their views were paramount in the development of the final policies. During the preparation of the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan, the Forum held monthly meetings open to the public which included a standing agenda item to update on the Plan’s progress.  The Forum has invited and promoted participation in the Plan through its Facebook page, website, and leaflets delivered to every dwelling in the Hoe Neighbourhood Area.

2.4.5        
Plymouth City Council has also been consulted throughout the plan-making on evidence base and policy wording to ensure that emerging policies are aligned with the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan 2014-2034. The extensive consultation that has been undergone in preparation of the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan is detailed in the Consultation Statement. A timeline of activity is summarised in Table 1.

Table 1: High-level summary of key milestones and engagement activity