Lynton and Lynmouth applies for Neighbourhood Plan area designation

The Plan has been drawn up by a number of Neighbourhood Representatives and the local community and includes proposals to help the community to become more sustainable, with a focus on housing and the economy.

The Neighbourhood Plan would support the supply of local housing and would be in favour of development, said a response to the Stage one consultation (5-Pages / 185 KB PDF) on the Plan.

"The community is asking for changes in the Plan which will improve the supply of local housing, boost the local economy, and protect and enhance the community," the response said. "These changes cannot be radical, as they need to still fit onto planning for the Park as a whole. They are necessary, though, because the area has not been getting the development it needs, which is what the Plan should be about."

Before a Plan can be adopted, it must be subject to a vote at a local referendum. If successful, the Plan would legally adopted document against which all planning applications must be judged.

The Neighbourhood Plan could seek to stop newly built homes being sold as  second homes, the consultation said (6-Pages / 229KB PDF)."There is almost complete agreement that more second homes are very undesirable. There is little that can be done to stop existing untied properties becoming second homes, but this can be required for any new houses built."

Residents also supported the idea of incorporating greater planning flexibility into the plan to meet the needs of existing businesses. "The point was made more than once that the planning system does not understand business well, and that as well as greater flexibility, more positivity and business perspectives are needed for planning policy and decisions."

Flexibility in the planning system for Lynton and Lynmouth could be achieved by introducing Local Development Orders, which would allow certain development to take place without the need for Planning Permission.

The Neighbourhood Plan area will be open for consultation until 30 August.