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DCLG invites eight groups to trial business-led neighbourhood plans

The government has invited eight groups to apply formally for the chance to act as frontrunners for business-led neighbourhood plans.

The eight are:

  • Liverpool Innovation Park (owned by Space NW)
  • Central Milton Keynes
  • Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead (owned by North East Property Partnership)
  • Southbank, London (led by South Bank Employers’ Group)
  • New West End Company, London
  • Bankside, London (led by Better Bankside)
  • Trafford Park, Manchester
  • Aldershot Town Centre

The organisations have been invited through their local planning authority to make a formal application to the Department for Communities and Local Government to access support and funding to cover their expenses.

The DCLG said the frontrunners would work with local councils and community groups “to prepare the planning and development framework to bring the right kind of development to their area”. If these plans are later passed in a local referendum, they will be adopted by the council, it added.

Planning Minister Greg Clark said: "We need to involve local companies more explicitly in neighbourhood planning decisions for business areas if communities are to get the most out of them. Businesses have access to skills, resources and expertise that can give a real boost to getting the right kind of growth underway in many areas. Business Neighbourhood Frontrunners are about residents and businesses shaping their neighbourhood together.

"Ensuring all members of a community are involved in driving development in their neighbourhood is central to our planning reforms and local businesses are an equally important part of many communities."

Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: "The business neighbourhood frontrunners unveiled today are all areas with an enormous potential for economic growth. Designation as a business neighbourhood should help them to put together a planning and development framework for their areas that allows them to realise that potential. We hope that many other business neighbourhoods will follow their lead."