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NALC opposes the street vote development concept
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has opposed the government’s new street vote development order plans.
In response to the recent Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) consultation on street vote development orders, NALC emphasised that street vote development orders would undermine the plan-led approach to plan-making in communities.
NALC also called for local (parish and town) councils to be specified statutory consultees at the examination stage of street vote development proposals and for the examination process to reflect that for neighbourhood and local plans.
Many parts of England have small parishes covering less than 50 residential properties. NALC proposes that these parishes must have the option to be the preferred vehicle to deliver street vote development orders.
Further costs will be an issue for small community or resident groups in their preparation for street vote development orders (e.g. commissioning environmental impact assessments), and the government must consider funding support similar to neighbourhood planning.
This consultation sought views on the detailed operation of street vote development orders, which will inform the content of regulations using new powers in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.