Local Planning supporting information

Parish plans

Parish plans were originally introduced by the Countryside Agency as part of the Vital Villages initiative. We are now promoting and directing resources to Neighbourhood Development Plans, but we will continue to recognise the important role parish plans can play in planning for the future and improving residents' quality of life.

Parish plans are often used as a key source of evidence for neighbourhood plans (which can have statutory weight in the planning system) and communities continue to produce them as useful reference documents for the parish council and partner bodies.

Parish plans are intended to take a holistic view of village life and differ from village design statements which are far narrower in their remit and focus on the quality of the built environment.