In England, roughly 1,600 groups are currently writing Neighbourhood Plans (NPs), eight million people live in a designated NP area, and that nearly £7m in government grants has been allocated to groups across the country. Academic research also paints a broadly positive picture: A 2014 University of Reading And Locality report states that, overall:
“an initiative with merit and having further potential, although it is not without its challenges”.
“power to the people….the whole exercise brought together the community”
“some plans are openly pro-development, in some cases seeking to extend housing targets and to promote economic growth”.
“there is some hope that NPs can promote an IMBY attitude (In My Back Yard).”