TWO sets of residents' groups are to draw up publicly-funded masterplans for boosting quality of life and business in their neighbourhoods as part of a new Government scheme.
The Highams Park Residents Forum and Society organisations, along with The Bushwood Residents’ Association and the Business Improvement District (BID) in Leytonstone, are among 126 groups across the country taking part in the pilot project.
Whitehall says the new powers, which are being introduced in its Localism Bill, will give "local people a real voice in deciding how development will look in their area".
The 'Neighbourhood Plans' will be blueprints suggesting everything from the locations of shops and schools to fixing standards of design for new housing.
The plans can also earmark areas for building new homes and businesses, allowing blanket planning permission to be granted for new developments without companies having to make separate planning applications.
However the masterplans will only come into force if more than 50 per cent of voters agree in a local referendum.
Government planning minister Greg Clark said: “For too long local people have been shut out of the planning process with no real voice to affect decisions about the places where they live.
“Unpopular regional strategies left people without the ability to influence the future of their community and this fuelled resentment towards growth.
“Neighbourhood planning will hand power back to communities to decide the vision for their area as they see fit, encouraging people to plan positively for their future.
“This is localism in action and the enthusiasm across the country for neighbourhood planning shows how keen communities are to get involved.”
Waltham Forest Council has also been given £20,000 in government grants to help the residents' associations with their plans.
Dates for when the two plans will be completed and voted on have yet to be announced.
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