Barton neighbourhood plan
The Barton Neighbourhood Plan (BNP) has been prepared by Barton Parish Council in association with Myerscough and Bilsborrow Parish Council. The latter formally delegated their right to prepare a neighbourhood plan to Barton Parish Council and its Steering Group in consultation with the local planning authorities for the neighbourhood area - the local planning authorities being Preston City Council and Wyre Council. It was also agreed between the two borough councils, that Preston City Council would be the lead local planning authority. This is owing to the majority of the neighbourhood area falling within the administrative area of Preston City Council and Barton Parish Council.
Adoption of the Barton Neighbourhood Plan
The Barton Neighbourhood Plan referendum took place on 9 November 2023. More than 50% (94.4%) of the votes cast in the Barton Neighbourhood Plan Referendum were in favour of the Council using Barton Neighbourhood Plan to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
On 30 November 2023, following on from the results of the Referendum, Wyre Council determined to ‘make’ (adopt) the Barton Neighbourhood Plan.
Wyre Council’s Decision (Adoption) Statement on the Barton Neighbourhood Plan (Plan Period 2019-30) provides the Council’s formal decision to ‘make’ the Barton Neighbourhood Plan.
The Barton Neighbourhood Plan will now form part of the Authority’s Development Plan. This means that the Plan will be used by Wyre Council in the determination of planning applications in the designated area of the Barton Neighbourhood Plan.
Preston City Council will also undertake its own formal decision on whether to ‘make’ the Barton Neighbourhood Plan for the area of the Neighbourhood Plan under its administrative area. For information relating to Preston’s administrative area of the Barton Neighbourhood Plan please see their website.
Referendum
A referendum for the Barton Neighbourhood Plan was held on 9 November 2023.
The Result of Poll can be found here.
The question asked at the referendum was:
Do you want Preston City Council and Wyre Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Barton to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?
The following documents provide further details of the referendum, the referendum area, who could vote, and how. These documents include the ‘Specified Documents’ mentioned in the Information Statement listed below. (Please note some documents are also repeated below on this page but are included in this section for ease of reference during the referendum process).
- Information Statement (This provides details of the referendum)
- The Barton Neighbourhood Plan (The Referendum Version)
- The report of the Independent Examiner
- Copies of the written representations submitted to the Independent Examiner
- Preston City Council’s Decision Statement and Wyre Borough Council’s Decision Statement undertaken respectively under Regulation 18 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations of both the local planning authorities satisfaction that the Barton Neighbourhood Plan as recommended for modification by the Examiner meets the ‘basic conditions’ and complies with the relevant legislation
- General Information Statement on Town and Country Planning and Neighbourhood Planning
Stages of the Barton Neighbourhood Plan prior to the referendum stage (including Independent Examination) Submission of the Barton Neighbourhood Plan
Barton Parish Council (lead Parish) formally submitted the Barton Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents for examination in November 2022. In accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, as amended, the submission documents includes:
- Submission Barton Neighbourhood Plan (November 2022)
- Consultation Statement (November 2022)
- Basic Conditions Statement (November 2022)
- Barton Planning Policy Assessment (May 2023)
In accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Wyre Council publicised the Barton Neighbourhood Plan and sought comments during a six week public consultation being held between 18 January and 1 March 2023. During this period the plan proposal and other supporting documents were available to view.
Previous Stages prior to submission of the BNP are detailed under the ‘Previous Stages Before Submission’ heading further below on this webpage.
Examination Process
Following the Regulation 16 consultation, an Independent Examiner was appointed by Preston City Council in agreement with Wyre Borough Council and Barton Parish Council, to assess the Plan proposals and supporting documents against the seven basic conditions (legal requirements). The Examiner considered the Plan against the basic conditions set out in Neighbourhood Planning legislation, and produced a report to the Council.
Examiner's Report
The Examiners report was received by the Council in June 2023. It concluded that subject to modifications, the Barton Neighbourhood Plan is in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Adopted Wyre Local Plan (2011-2031) (incorporating partial update of 2022); has regard to national guidance; would contribute to the achievement of sustainable development; and would satisfy the Basic Conditions and legal requirements. The Examiner’s Report includes recommended modifications. The Examiner recommended that the Plan, once it has been modified, proceeds to local referendum and the referendum should be based on the Neighbourhood Plan area as approved by Preston and Wyre councils on 8 September 2017.
The Council’s relevant Portfolio Holder has considered the recommendations made by the Examiner on 14 September 2023. The Examiners Report and modified version of the Barton Neighbourhood Plan accounting for the Examiners Recommendations (which is the version to be considered at Referendum following the Portfolio Holder decision) together with the Council’s Regulation 18 Decision Statement can be found below
- Examiners Report to Preston City Council and Wyre Borough Council of the examination into the Barton Neighbourhood Development Plan
- Appendix A - Barton Neighbourhood Plan - Referendum Version
- Decision Statement
Previous Stages Before Submission
Neighbourhood Area Application
Myerscough and Bilsborrow Parish Council with Barton Parish Council (lead parish) submitted a neighbourhood area application to Wyre Council and Preston City Council on 30 March 2017. A six week consultation was held from 11 May until 23 June 2017. After consideration of the consultation comments, the area application was approved by the Council on 8 September 2017. Supporting documents are available as follows:
Barton Parish Council have undertaken a number of public consultations, including a statutory public consultation in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations before submitting a plan proposal to the local planning authority, Details about the submission of the Barton Neighbourhood Plan are set out above on this webpage.
Screening
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) Screening Report
A Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Report was prepared by Wyre Council in February 2021. Preston City Council have also prepared a Screening Opinion in December 2021 which is available on their website.