We are delighted to say that the Pitstone Neighbourhood Plan has now been officially ‘made’ by Aylesbury Vale District Council and will be used to help determine any future planning applications.
AVDC placed the following announcement on their web site (includes a link to their web site):
Pitstone’s neighbourhood plan is now in place
14 Apr 2016
On Thursday 14 April, the neighbourhood plan for Pitstone was officially ‘made’ – which means that it has now been completed and approved by Aylesbury Vale District Council.
A major function of neighbourhood plans, such as the one which has been produced for Pitstone, is that they are used to inform planning decisions within the framework of Aylesbury Vale’s overall development plan.
AVDC is also working on twenty-eight other neighbourhood plans for different localities. In each case, the district council supports local communities by providing them with essential advice on the neighbourhood planning process, ensuring that each individual plan is broadly in line with local and national planning policies.
AVDC also organises and conducts referendums, before helping to ensure that neighbourhood plans are adopted and implemented.
Cllr Carole Paternoster, Cabinet Member for Growth Strategy, said: “The residents of Pitstone are to be congratulated on the successful submission of their neighbourhood plan, which will undoubtedly have a significant influence over the future development of their locality. The district council will continue working closely with communities across Aylesbury Vale on important planning issues, including the completion of neighbourhood plans.”
Details of the Pitstone neighbourhood plan are now available at AVDC’s website:
The relevant documents are also available for public viewing at AVDC’s offices in The Gateway, Aylesbury and at Beacon Villages Community Library in Ivinghoe, or by contacting the Parish Clerk of Pitstone Parish Council at: parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk
Please also find attached a copy of the Pitstone Neighbourhood Plan decision statement.
Friday 18 March
97% of those voting in yesterday's village referendum did so in
favour of AVDC adopting the Pitstone Neighbourhood Plan.
This is a terrific result from a high turnout of voters and the
Parish Council, the NDP Steering Group and the "Vote Yes" campaign
would like to thank everybody involved, for supporting the
Pitstone Neighbourhood Plan and everything it stands for in such
a resounding manner.
More to follow, in the next edition of PPP and at the forthcoming
Annual Parish Assembly on 17 May 2016; but in the meantime, our
thanks once again.
The Independent Examiner has completed his report and final amendments have now been made in line with his recommendation. These have been accepted by Aylesbury Vale District Council and we are delighted to announce that all eligible residents of Pitstone will have an opportunity to vote in a referendum on the Plan on;
Thursday 17th March 2016
Voting cards will be issued soon and the vote will take place in the Memorial Hall between the hours of 7am to 10pm.
Can we please ask that you read the Plan carefully and considerately and that all people where possible come out to vote.
Look out for update flyers coming through your doors this weekend (30th and 31st January). AVDC will confirm the date of our referendum which will be before Easter. Every eligible person in the village gets a vote so if you care about where you live, get ready to vote.
Our Plan was submitted to AVDC in November with the consultation period ending on 22 December. The Plan should now be with the Independent Examiner and, at a guess, we estimate that this next 6 week period will end mid/late February with the Referendum date being set sometime in May.
Keep an eye on this page and look out for leaflets for further updates.
As part of their current Issues and Options planning consultation, Aylesbury Vale District Council would like your views on whether they should retain Areas of Attractive Landscape and Local Landscape Areas and include a policy to enable the assessment of planning applications and appeals, or whether they can remove these categories and rely on assessing applications against the National Planning Policy Framework.
They are inviting comments from residents and interested parties and will use this information to identify and confirm support for areas of local landscape designation, which will help formulate their decision.
Pitstone has one such area of Area of Attractive Landscape, extending from St Marys church across to Pitstone windmill and joining the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the other side of the B488. Through the Neighbourhood Development Plan process we know that you value this vista, and would like to preserve it from development, so we need you all to write to AVDC (before 4 December) and tell them.
You may like to mention that it is important to preserve our landscape area because:
The area is rich in heritage significance for our village including:
a Grade I listed church and Grade II* listed windmill, which as well as being an important vista locally also form important landmarks when viewing from a distance and the Chilterns AONB.
It includes a medieval moated site (a Scheduled Monument thought to mark the site of Pitstone Manor, believed to be in occupation in 1086) and buried archaeological features.
Roman and Saxon settlement indications have been found at Church End.
The current Area of Attractive Landscape (AAL) has important geological significance in the parish because:
Although a relatively small area compared to other Areas of Attractive Landscape in the district, the Pitstone AAL provides cohesion and unity with the Chilterns AONB from which it is only separated by a road, and acts as an important mechanic to extend and enhance the important natural environment in this location and protect it from ‘urban creep’.
It includes an area of ancient woodland and area of calcareous grassland.
The openness of this lower escarpment forms an attractive foreground and strong setting for the spectacular views of the AONB slopes both from within the village and when viewed from higher vantage points such as Pitstone Hill.
We want to fight to preserve and enhance the natural environment on this side of the parish, concentrating any development in areas less harmful to nature, welfare, biodiversity and tourism.
There are huge social, physical and psychological benefits for our community and the wider area:
The preserved open space provides a valuable network of easily accessible permissible footpaths that are well used by local residents both for pleasure and for accessing the adjoining village of Ivinghoe.
These footpaths connect to the Public Rights of Way across the Chilterns AONB and across Pitstone Hill to the Ashridge estate beyond providing important access for residents and bringing walkers to the village.
The uninterrupted views across the landscape to the Chiltern hills provide a sense of delight in their surroundings for local residents who enjoy tending their allotments and utilising the footpaths to get fresh air and exercise.
The health benefits of access to natural environment are well documented. This gentle area of foothills immediately adjacent to the settlement provides important easy access for residents.
The vista across the open fields to the Chilterns AONB is incredibly important to the local residents and when attracting new families to move to the area.
AVDC is seeking comments on this study by 4 December 2015 – please send to planningpolicy@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or post to Planning Policy, Forward Plans, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP19 8FF.
Following many months of hard work, our Plan has now been submitted to Aylesbury Vale District Council on Monday 20 October – almost a year to the day since work started on it! Many of you took the time to comment on the pre-submission Plan in June/July for which we thank you. Following this pre-submission consultation, various changes were made to the Plan as a consequence before it was submitted to AVDC for this next consultation period.
From now on, the process is run by AVDC rather than the NDP team. Our ultimate goal is a formal referendum, in Spring 2016, in which the community votes to approve our Plan. Further details regarding the referendum will follow in due course.
As you know, our Plan is the blueprint for the development of Pitstone over the period 2013 to 2033. It seeks to protect our village environment, our green spaces and our views, in return for a reasonable level of properly-managed housing development and improved community facilities. We hope you will continue to give it your full support.
There is still plenty you can do to help get our Plan through and to have your say. AVDC’s consultation period on our Plan commenced on Tuesday 10 November and runs until Tuesday 22 December. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents can be found at http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/pitstone-neighbourhood-plan.
(Paper copies can also be inspected at various locations throughout the village). AVDC are now legally required to consult on it for a further 6 weeks which means there is further opportunity for you to help shape the future of our village. Please do take this opportunity to support our Plan and send any comments to AVDC. Full details of how to comment can be found at the above web address.
The designated neighbourhood area covers the same area as the Pitstone Parish Council.
Details of the plan
On adoption, the PNP will form part of the development plane, against which planning applications in the area will be assessed.
The PNP looks to shape development making allocations for housing and community facilities, safeguards land for future D1 education use, supports employment development and also designates Local Green Spaces within the parish.
Latest Progress
After many months of hard work and community engagement, Pitstone Parish Council has now submitted it’s final version of the Pitstone Neighbourhood Plan. Aylesbury Vale District Council are now required to undertake a six week publication period to provide an opportunity for all parties to comment on the submitted proposals before the plan goes to examination. The consultation commenced on Tuesday 10 November 2015 and will close at 5pm on Tuesday 22 December 2015.
Consultation documents
You can view all of the consultation documents by clicking on the links below.
In writing: posted to Forward Plans, AVDC, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.
You can request to be notified of AVDC’s decision to adopt the plan once an examination and referendum has taken place.
Please do not send duplicate comments (electronic or in writing) and please ensure that comments are received by the District Council before 5pm on Tuesday 22 December 2015.
What happens next?
Following the period for comment, AVDC will collate the responses and submit them to an examiner for the document to be examined.
The parish is especially fortunate to have a Special Area of Conservation within our parish boundary, the Chiltern Beechwoods within Ashridge. Such sites are of European significance and warrant extra special protection.
The parish council has therefore commissioned an update to the Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA) initially produced by Aylesbury Vale District Council to assess any impact of development upon significant sites within the parish. This report complies with Regulation 102 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.
The HRA is available via the link below and we welcome any response to the consultation by close of play on Monday 14 September 2015.
If you would like the Pitstone Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group to keep you updated with news on progress, please complete the form below:
With the Plan due to be released for consultation on 1 June, we are now in the process of organising a series of NDP Launch Events to which you are invited – please come along, share a glass of wine with us whilst discussing the plan with the various members of the Sub-Groups and Members of the NDP.
The Launch Events will be on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June at 3pm in the Memorial Hall. There will be a presentation at 3.30pm for around an hour followed by a discussion on the need for a village pub.
The purpose of these events is to present the key aspects of the proposed Plan and to encourage the community to go online and make official comment – it is not possible for members of the Sub-Groups to do this on your behalf and it is therefore, essential that you do this. The Plan after all, is being written based on your feedback.
This will be your opportunity to have your say – Your Village, Your Voice!
We have now concluded our highly successful Community Engagement Days, which took place on Sunday 22 March and Saturday 28 March at Pitstone Memorial Hall.
229 residents of the village took the opportunity to speak to the members of the NDP team about housing supply, sport and education, transport and infrastructure, and our heritage and environment. 190 comments forms were submitted.
The NDP team is now analysing your views and assessing the themes that emerged over the course of the two days. Your feedback will be used to supplement the work already undertaken by the NDP’s four sub-groups, as we work towards preparing a first draft of the document that will constitute our formal Plan.
There is still a lot to be done but we are making massive strides, and the input we received from the community on 22 and 28 March will be invaluable in preparing our Plan for Pitstone. Watch this space!
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