What are Parish Plans and Village Design Statements?

The Parish Plan (or Town Plan) and Village Design Statement (VDS) are both types of community-led plans. 

The essential characteristics of community-led plans are:-

a)  They are produced at a very local level thereby representing your parish as a whole;

b) They enable local community groups to become actively involved in the decision-making processes affecting the future of their parish.

The process of producing either type of community-led plan includes extensive appraisal and survey work.  This establishes local needs and aspirations, highlights opinion and priorities, thereby developing a vision for the future of your community.

There is however a fundamental difference between the two -

A Parish Plan (or Town Plan)

a) Outlines a range of social, environmental and economic issues affecting your parish;

b) Produces two main types of outcome –

 Actions – to be undertaken by local groups; and

Proposals – to influence actions, decisions  policies of larger organisations.

A Village Design Statement (or VDS)

Describes the character of your parish;

Produces design guidance to influence change and improve the physical qualities of your area;   Produces design guidance to influence change and improve the physical qualities of your area;

Gives a clear statement of what is special, unique and distinctive about the character of your parish in terms of its appearance.

Making a difference

Parish Plan

The Actions will:-

Show how local groups will address your priority issues; Identify with whom you need to work and sources of funding to achieve your goals; Influence decision-making bodies to work with you on taking actions forward.

The Survey Information will:-

form part of the evidence base that influences policies in the Community Strategy and Local Development Framework.

Following completion of a Parish Plan:–

Coggeshall has purchased its community hall from Essex County Council and is proceeding with a programme of refurbishments; Great Yeldham has created a website and a directory of local services and organisations; Bures has successfully recruited volunteers to maintain village organisations and set up new groups; Great Bardfield has undertaken a speed and parking project resulting in the purchase of a mobile speed camera.

Village Design Statement (or VDS)

A VDS adds local detail to development plan policy and when approved by Braintree District Council may be used as material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

 Great Bardfield and Rivenhall parishes have produced approved VDS documents against which local planning applications are being assessed.  Residents in these parishes also have a greater awareness of local character and design issues, which may influence small-scale changes not requiring planning permission.

What help is available?

Direct support is available from your Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) Field Officer, who will attend meetings, advise on funding and how to involve everyone in the project;

Information Packs are available to guide you through the process from the initial survey work to final production of documents; 

By contacting other communities who have completed a Parish Plan and/or VDS you will be able to see examples from around the district;

Braintree District Council will be able to feed the survey information and resulting action plan into the Community Strategy, Local Development Framework and the Rural Policy and Action Statement;

The Parish Liaison Officer will be able to assist with taking actions forward, particularly where they require the involvement of BDC partner organisations.

If you wish to find out how to arrange a meeting, request an information pack, or find out more about Parish Plans and Village Design Statements    Please contact:

Jan Cole - Appraisals Field Officer,  Rural Community Council of Essex,  Threshelfords Business Park, Inworth Road, Feering, Essex, CO5 9SE.

Tel:  0844 477 3938

email: jan.cole@essexrcc.org.uk

The Community Strategy

District of Tomorrow, the Community Strategy  for Braintree District, was launched by Partners and Communities Together (PACT), in November 2002.

PACT is the Local Strategic Partnership for Braintree District.

The Community Strategy Action Plan  supports the Community Strategy by setting out a vision for the District for the period up to 2014 and bringing together the actions of a range of agencies who will deliver the overall strategy

The Action Plan focuses on the seven themes identified in District of Tomorrow. These seven themes and the priorities contained in the Action Plan are based on extensive public consultation – involving more than 5,000 residents from all parts of the District.

Both the Community Strategy and the Action Plan are soon to be reviewed  to ensure they continue to reflect communities’ priorities. 

The Rural Policy and Action Statement 2005  brings together, into one document, the rural initiatives, projects, and services that Braintree Council is providing or is involved in.

The Policy also takes into account National, Regional and County Rural Priorities but more importantly it identifies future local priorities for our rural communities.