A Community Right to Build Order is a type of Neighbourhood Development Order, which can grant planning permission for small scale community-led developments. This could include things like housing, community centres, business/enterprise hubs or community energy schemes. This type of order means the community can use any proceeds from development for the benefit of the community.
Development covered by a Community Right to Build Order
It's up to your community to determine the type of small-scale development you want to bring forward by exercising the Community Right to Build Order. The types of development you consider should come from genuine community involvement and reflect local needs. You may decide that you need to build homes for local people struggling to get on the housing ladder or you may want to bring forward a new community hall or community centre. Development proposals brought forward under a Community Right to Build Order need to be of a fairly small scale so that they fall below certain thresholds so that an Environmental Impact Assessment isn't required.
There is a set process to go through to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Order, much like the process for preparing a Neighbourhood Plan. A Neighbourhood Development Order must be subject to an independent examination, and then approved by the community in a referendum, before they can come into force.
How to get started
If you or a local group wishes to engage with neighbourhood planning in Plymouth, we encourage them in the first instance to contact us at planningpolicy@plymouth.gov.uk or by calling 01752 305477.