Marton Moss Neighbourhood Forum
Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan – Regulation 19 (Final) Decision Statement
This Statement was published on 19 December 2023, pursuant to Section 38A(9) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012/637.
Blackpool Council has ‘made’ the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan under Section 38A(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). The Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan now forms part of the Development Plan for Blackpool.
1.0 Summary
| · This document is the Decision Statement required to be prepared under Section 38A(9) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended). It sets out the Council’s considerations and formal decision in bringing the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan into legal force.
· Following an independent examination and positive referendum result, held on 5th October 2023, Blackpool Council decided to make the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan under Section 38A(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). |
2.0 Background
| · The Council formally designated the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum on 26th March 2019 in accordance with the Neighbourhood Plan (General) Regulations (as amended) 2012 – Regulations 7 and 10. This established the process for the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Forum (MMNF) as the qualifying body to produce a neighbourhood plan for the designated area. |
| · The Forum submitted their draft plan, which covers the period 2020 to 2030, to the Council (Regulation 15) in August 2022. The Council published the draft plan for consultation in accordance with Regulation 16 in October 2022.
· The Council appointed an independent examiner in February 2023, in agreement with the MMNF, in accordance with Regulation 17 and the examiner published his report, which the Council received on 29th March 2023. · The Council published their decision in accordance with Regulation 17a and accepted the examiner’s recommendations and proposed modifications to allow the Referendum Plan to progress towards becoming a ‘made’ plan and part of Blackpool’s development plan, subject to a ‘yes’ vote in a referendum. · A local referendum was held in Marton Moss on 5th October 2023 to decide whether the local community were in favour of the Plan. Of the votes received, 246 (90.44%) voted ‘yes’ in response to the referendum question. The turnout of electors was 32.19%. |
3.0 Decisions and Reasons
| · Blackpool Council decided by resolution of Full Council on 29th November 2023 to ‘make’ (adopt) the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan.
· Blackpool Council as the local authority ‘makes’ the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan as part of the Development Plan in accordance with Section 38A (4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). The Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan now forms part of the Development Plan for Blackpool. Planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area must be considered against the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan, as well as existing national planning policy and the Blackpool Local Plan. · On 5th October 2023 the Plan was subject to a referendum which returned a vote in favour of the Plan being used to help decide planning applications. Section 38A (4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) requires that the Council must ‘make’ the Plan if more than half of those voting have voted in favour of the plan. · The Council has assessed the Plan and concluded that the Plan, including its preparation, is compatible with EU obligation and the Convention Rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998) and complies with the relevant provisions within the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). · The adopted version of the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan (as approved by Full Council) was published on the Council’s website, alongside this Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan Decision Statement, on 19 December 2023 available to view at www.blackpool.gov.uk/martonmossnp |
E Jane Saleh, Head of Planning (Strategy) – Growing Places Division
246 YES 26 NO
Overwhelming majority vote
in favour of accepting the Neighbourhood Plan.
Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan
went to Referendum Thursday 5 October 2023
A public meeting for residents was held on Thursday 14thSeptember.
The minutes of this meeting are available to view on the Meeting Minutes page.
The plan can be viewed below
Blackpool council’s decision to proceed to referendum was made on 6th June 2023. Details below…
The Neighbourhood Plan has now been examined and the Examiner’s report has been submitted to Blackpool Council for their consideration. A copy of the report can be viewed below.
Neighbourhood Plan Is Now Being Examined
Blackpool Council has appointed Andrew Mead to examine the Plan and all the documents submitted with it. He will also consider all the representations received from persons and organisations made during the most recent publication stage – between 17 October and 28 November 2022.
The Examiner is independent of all parties and will produce a report with recommendations as to whether the Plan has been correctly prepared and its policies justified by appropriate evidence.
The only contact between the Forum, Blackpool Council and the Examiner will be in response to requests for information or clarification from the Examiner. Such a request has now been received as set in the letter below.
Examiners Procedural Matters and Questions
The responses made on behalf of the Forum and Blackpool Council to this letter are available to view below and also on Blackpool Council’s website.
MMNF responses to Examiner’s Questions
Council responses to Examiners Questions
The Regulation 16 stage 3 and final public engagement of the Neighbourhood Plan is to start on 17 October 2022 and end on 28 November 2022. As required by the Regulations this stage is being run by Blackpool Council. It relates to the draft Plan as submitted to the Council which has been revised following the Regulation 14 consultation held in the Spring of this year. All the comments to be received at this latest stage will be sent on to an independent Examiner who will consider them alongside the Plan and its supporting documents.
The Examiner will produce a report, recommend whether the Plan should be modified and be the subject of a referendum of all the residents of Marton Moss. If the Plan receives majority support at a referendum the Plan will be finalised by the Council and come into force, meaning it will be taken account of in planning application decisions.
To view all the Neighbourhood Plan documents submitted to Blackpool Council please click on the following link
To make comments please click on the following link
A paper copy of the Plan can also be viewed locally by calling or texting 07739 517630.
The Regulation 14 stage 2 of public engagement was completed on 19 April 2022 and the responses received can be viewed on the Documents page.
THE CONSULTATION PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN STARTS ON 7 MARCH
At long last the draft Neighbourhood Plan for the Moss has been published. It’s not the final version but it does reflect what local people said at the previous consultation held in the Summer of 2020.
Publication of the Plan has been delayed because of necessary environmental and housing viability technical work done by external consultants.
Now everyone has had the chance to see what the Plan contains and comment on it over the six week period ending on the 19th April 2022.
The Plan proposes to allow a limited amount of appropriate development but also to keep protected the special character of the Moss. When finalised it will replace the strict controls on new construction in the Blackpool Local Plan (Policy CS26).
Once all the comments received have been considered and any needed amendments made to the Plan it will be sent to Blackpool Council who will appoint an independent person to examine it. Following that there will be referendum where all local residents will get the chance to vote on the final version of the Plan.
The Plan and all the Supporting Documents can be viewed on the Documents page.
About The Forum
In 2017 the residents of Marton Moss were asked by Blackpool Council if they wanted to have a say in the future development of the area. The majority who responded said that they did want to have a say.
The Council formally designated the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Area and the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Forum on the 26th March 2019, following a six week consultation period which ran between 21st January 2019 and the 4th March 2019. The Council’s decision is available below:
Marton Moss Neighbourhood Area and Forum designation decision
Marton Moss Neighbourhood Area and Forum designation decision notice
The application, supporting documents and a Schedule of Representations are available below:
Marton Moss Neighbourhood Area and Forum Designation Application Form
Proposed Marton Moss Neighbourhood Area
Marton Moss Supporting Statement
Further information and background
Marton Moss neighbourhood planning approach
The core strategy was adopted in January 2016 and identifies the remaining lands at Marton Moss as being integral to the local distinctiveness of Blackpool and is highly valued by the local community.
Policy CS26 sets out a neighbourhood planning approach. This means getting the community more involved in deciding what they want for the area, for example how to retain the Moss’ distinctive character as well as deciding where and what type of development may be acceptable.
The Council undertook consultation events in November 2017 and the local community voted in favour of producing their own Neighbourhood Plan. For more information on the consultation process and the results, please refer to the Blackpool council website.
The Marton Moss Neighbourhood Forum currently has in excess of 250 members.
It is our intention to work alongside other statutory bodies, local groups and authorities to influence the future development of Marton Moss.
Our Purpose, Aims & Ambitions
Our Purpose, Aims & Ambitions are explained in the following document
This Forum is a chance for the people of the Moss to have their say.
