Welcome to the website of the Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum
What is a Neighbourhood Forum?
Neighbourhood forums were created to empower residents to influence the future development of their area. The Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum was designated by South Tyneside Council in 2017. Since then, the Forum worked on developing the neighbourhood plan, which was adopted in 2022. The Forum also has the wider remit to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Whitburn area and its residents. You can read more about the Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum here.
How do you make a neighbourhood plan?
The first step in the process of creating a neighbourhood plan is to create a forum. Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum was founded in September 2016. Whilst the initial forum size was around 20 local residents and businesses, it now has over 300 members and continues to grow.
Once officially recognised as a neighbourhood forum by the local authority, the forum can begin to create a neighbourhood plan. Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum and the corresponding Whitburn neighbourhood area received official recognition in January 2017 by South Tyneside Council, after a public consultation was held. This meant that work on the plan and its policies could commence. Work on the neighbourhood plan has included continual consultation with the Whitburn community.
The first draft of the plan was formally consulted on with the public and other consultees, such as the local authority. This consultation resulted in an amended submission plan. This plan was submitted to the council, who held a six-week public consultation. The Plan with all its comments went to public inquiry held by a planning inspector early 2022. The plan was amended one more time based on the inspector's recommendations. The plan was voted on by Whitburn residents in a local referendum, with the majority voting in favour of the plan. The plan will then be 'made' by the council, and planning applications within the neighbourhood forum’s boundaries must be assessed against the neighbourhood plan.
You can read more about the Whitburn Neighbourhood Plan here.
Once officially recognised as a neighbourhood forum by the local authority, the forum can begin to create a neighbourhood plan. Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum and the corresponding Whitburn neighbourhood area received official recognition in January 2017 by South Tyneside Council, after a public consultation was held. This meant that work on the plan and its policies could commence. Work on the neighbourhood plan has included continual consultation with the Whitburn community.
The first draft of the plan was formally consulted on with the public and other consultees, such as the local authority. This consultation resulted in an amended submission plan. This plan was submitted to the council, who held a six-week public consultation. The Plan with all its comments went to public inquiry held by a planning inspector early 2022. The plan was amended one more time based on the inspector's recommendations. The plan was voted on by Whitburn residents in a local referendum, with the majority voting in favour of the plan. The plan will then be 'made' by the council, and planning applications within the neighbourhood forum’s boundaries must be assessed against the neighbourhood plan.
You can read more about the Whitburn Neighbourhood Plan here.
All header photographs by John Short
