Small villages may well be unsustainable (Firsdown is in this category) and development will only be permitted within the village envelope – But this does not protect against development.
In the past, the Parish Council decided that being in the unsustainable category meant the effort and complexity (as well as cost) of generating a Neighbourhood Plan was not justified.
The government’s definition of a neighbourhood plan is as follows:
Neighbourhood planning is a new way for communities to have a say in the future of the places where they live and work. It gives you the power to produce a plan with real legal weight that directs development in your local area. It helps you:
- choose where you want new homes, shops and offices to be built
- have your say on what those new buildings should look like
- grant planning permission for the new buildings you want to see go ahead
Groups can get tailored advice, support and grants to develop their neighbourhood plans.
It was decided that a Parish Profile was more appropriate. The profile provided an opportunity for parishioners to describe how they feel the physical character of Firsdown could be enhanced.
In 2013 the Parish Council surveyed the residents of Firsdown to produce a Parish Profile. Although now more than a decade old, the Parish Council believes much of it is still relevant. We welcome parishioners input to update the document.