A Neighbourhood Plan (NP) will give the Burford community direct power to develop a shared vision for our neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of our local area for years to come.
Even though the majority of Burford ward sits in Cotswolds National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB) it is vital that we designate our green spaces and protect our surrounding countryside.
A NP attains the same legal status as a local plan once it has been approved at a referendum. We need residents to vote at the referendum for the NP. We need to make sure we communicate about it and involve our community in what we are doing. At the point the NP comes into force as part of the statutory development plan, decisions on planning applications will be made using both.
The NP project needs to be a combined effort of residents and Burford Town Council. We can put in place planning policies that will help deliver our vision for the development we want to see and how we want Burford to shape in the future The most important part is the Referendum, where all residents can vote on the NP deliverables and outputs. 83% of you said in the first NP survey that you want to help shape Burford’s future. This is now your chance. Your voice matters.
All developments are now taxed through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). It is a tax that is applied to developers based on the gross internal area on a house or development. Typically, this could be £25,000 or more on a 3-bedroom semi. Burford would receive a quarter of this to spend on community infrastructure, e.g. roads, health care and recreation facilities.
To find out more please contact: Town.clerk@Burford-tc.gov.uk If you are interested in joining one of the five community forums and you haven’t yet put your name down, please send in your request to the above email address and we will include you.