Liverpool neighbourhood plan process begins
The Liverpool Business Improvement District is hosting two events next week to establish a neighbourhood forum, as part of the first phase of the process to bring forward one of the UK's first city centre neighbourhood plans.
The plan would allow local residents and businesses to have a greater say on future developments and are a means of passing policy-making powers from the local authority to local stakeholders.
The plans can consider a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues arising from the use and development of land, and deal with issues like economic development, residential development, employment, and urban design.
The Liverpool BID company has been granted funding to establish the forum, which would oversee an area covering Lime Street to The Strand.
Two meetings to provide more information will be held next week:
- 6:00pm Monday 23 March – Upstairs, All Bar One, Derby Square
- 8:30am Tuesday 24 March – Hard Day's Night Hotel, North John Street
To prepare a neighbourhood plan, Liverpool city centre's forum must comprise of at least 21 people that live, work or are elected members in the area.
If the forum is created, this would lead to the preparation of the plan. Liverpool would then have to meet 'basic conditions' tested through an independent examination, which would look at sustainable development and how the plan addresses national policy, strategic local policy and EU obligations.
If a plan is found to meet the basic conditions, then it is subject to a referendum.
A majority 'yes' vote would result in the plan being brought into force by the local authority.
Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, which represents 1,500 city centre businesses, said: "Liverpool city centre is constantly evolving but not always to everyone's desires, underpinned by a planning process that makes many feel like silent observers.
''This neighbourhood plan is about giving those who invest their lives and livelihoods in the city centre a unique platform to develop a shared vision that will genuinely shape the future of where they live and work."
