Plans will help decide future of parishes in terms of development and planning applications

Residents of two East Devon parishes took the opportunity to vote on the future of their neighbourhood plans by attending referendums held in Beer and Clyst St George on 8 November 2018. Turnout for the events was high, with over 25% of residents choosing to attend, voting in favour of the plans by 90% at Beer and 93% at Clyst St George.

The plans set out policies for the future of the parishes and will be used to help inform future decisions about development and planning applications in those parishes. The neighbourhood plans were created by steering groups made up of members of the parish councils, local amenity groups and individuals from the wider community.

The question posed at both referendums, and to which voters said yes, was: "Do you want East Devon District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for the parish to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

Councillor Bruce de Saram, East Devon District Council's Lead Councillor for Neighbourhood Planning, said:

I was very pleased to see how well the neighbourhood plans were supported in the recent referendums. Neighbourhood planning in East Devon continues to go from strength to strength.  On adoption of the plans by the district council, over 20% of the district's residents will be covered by locally steered neighbourhood plan policies. I would like to thank members of both steering groups whose hard work on behalf of their local communities has now been rewarded.

More information about the Beer Neighbourhood Plan can be found on the East Devon website at: http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood-and-community-plans/neighbourhood-plans/neighbourhood-plans-being-produced-in-east-devon/beer

More information about the Clyst St George Neighbourhood Plan can be found on the East Devon website at: http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood-and-community-plans/neighbourhood-plans/neighbourhood-plans-being-produced-in-east-devon/clyst-st-george

ENDS