Neighbourhood plans

Neighbourhood plans allow local communities to lead on development and development plans in their areas. Neighbourhood planning was introduced in the government's Localism Act, and gives communities the opportunity to:

  • say where they think new houses, businesses and shops should be built;
  • have a say on what buildings should look like;
  • give planning permission for new developments.

Neighbourhood planning can’t be used to block the building of homes and business considered to be necessary to meet Barnsley’s future needs. But neighbourhood plans can be used to influence the type, design, location and mix of new developments. 

How to develop a neighbourhood plan

Neighbourhood planning involves creating any of the following:

  • Neighbourhood Development Plan. This establishes the vision and planning policies for the use and development of land in a neighbourhood. Once adopted it would become part of the development plan and would be used alongside the government’s National Planning Policy Framework and our Local Plan.

  • Neighbourhood Development Order. This allows communities to grant planning permission for types of new developments they want to see go ahead.

  • Community Right to Build Order. This is a type of Neighbourhood Development Order which gives communities the power to develop new projects such as small scale housing or community facilities without needing to apply for planning permission.

Where there's a town or parish council they'd be the only body that can prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order.

Where there isn't a town or parish council a neighbourhood forum can lead on co-ordinating neighbourhood planning. A neighbourhood forum could be made up of an existing community organisation or it could be a new group, but it must meet certain criteria and be approved by us.

In all cases, the neighbourhood area boundary would need to be approved by us.

A Community Right to Build Order can be prepared by certain community organisations and not just the parish or town council or neighbourhood forums.

Applying for neighbourhood planning

If you’re thinking about neighbourhood planning it’s worth having a look at the government’s introduction to neighbourhood planning where you'll find details of the technical and financial support that the government has made available.

You should also read the following documents:

Contact us for advice before you start the application process. You may also be interested in listing assets of community value and the right to bid.

Current neighbourhood plans

Silkstone Neighbourhood Development Plan

We held a referendum on 19 October 2023. A majority of those who voted were in favour of the Plan being used to help us decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area. On 7 December 2023, we resolved to make the Silkstone Neighbourhood Plan. It now forms part of the statutory development plan for Barnsley.

Find out more about the plan:

Cawthorne Neighbourhood Development Plan

A referendum took place on 10 June 2021. We resolved to make the Cawthorne Neighbourhood Development Plan on 14 July 2021. It now makes up part of our statutory development plan.

Find out more about the plan:

Penistone Neighbourhood Development Plan

A referendum took place on 11 July 2019. We resolved to make the Penistone Neighbourhood Development Plan on 27 August 2019. The plan now forms part of our statutory development plan.

Find out more about the plan:

Paper copies of the Neighbourhood Development Plan and the decision statement can be viewed at Penistone Library and Library @ the Lightbox.

Oxspring Neighbourhood Development Plan

We had a referendum on 2 May 2019. We resolved to make the Oxspring Neighbourhood Development Plan. This took place on 12 June 2019. It now forms part of the statutory development plan for Barnsley.

Find out more about the plan:

Tankersley Neighbourhood Development Plan

The neighbourhood area for the proposed Tankersley Neighbourhood Plan was approved on 1 March 2023.

Find out more about the plan:

Current applications to designate a neighbourhood area

There are no current applications to designate a neighbourhood area.

Find out about designating neighbourhood areas on GOV.UK.