The government commits funding to Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme

The government committed an additional £7.1 million to the Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme on 25 July 2023.

The Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme, run by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLHUC), aims to support groups developing neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders.  

The further funding brings the total funding to the Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme to over £47 million since 2018, allowing the scheme to continue for a sixth year into 2023/24. 

The programme offers Technical Support packages and grants. Technical Support provides evidence, advice, policy direction and process support for the early stage neighbourhood planning groups (not yet designated) or designated Qualifying Bodies (QBs- groups formally designated by a Local Planning Authority (LPA) to lead the production of a neighbourhood plan or neighbourhood development order (NDO)) which meet specific criteria set down by the government. 

The Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme reflects DLHUC's aim of levelling up communities, making them great places to live and work.   

Applications for the support are now open for this financial year (2023/24)