Why we need Neighbourhood planning

When people are involved in shaping their local surroundings, the benefits can include:

1. Additional Resources
   Governments rarely have sufficient means to solve all the problems in an area. Local people can bring additional resources which are often essential if their needs are to be met and dreams fulfilled.
2. Better DecisionsLocal people are invariably the best source of knowledge and wisdom about their surroundings. Better decision-making results if this is harnessed.
3. Building community
   The process of working together and achieving things together creates a sense of community.
4. Compliance with legislation
   Community involvement is often, and increasingly, a statutory requirement.
5. Democratic credibility
   Community involvement in planning accords with people¹s right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. It is an important part of the trend towards democratisation of all aspects of society.
6. Easier fundraising
   Many grant-making organisations prefer, or even require, community
   involvement to have occurred before handing out financial assistance.
7. Empowerment
   Involvement builds local people¹s confidence, capabilities, skills and ability to co-operate. This enables them to tackle other challenges, both individually and collectively
8. More appropriate results
   Design solutions are more likely to be in tune with what is needed and wanted. Involvement allows proposals to be tested and refined before adoption, resulting in better use of resources.
9. Professional education
   Working closely with local people helps professionals gain a greater insight into the communities they seek to serve. So they work more effectively and produce better results.
10. Responsive environment
    The environment can more easily be constantly tuned and refined to cater for people¹s changing requirements.
11. Satisfying public demand
    People want to be involved in shaping their environment and mostly seem to enjoy it.
12. Speedier development
    People gain a better understanding of the options realistically available and are likely to start thinking positively rather than negatively. Time-wasting conflicts can often be avoided.
13. Sustainability
    People feel more attached to an environment they have helped create. They will therefore manage and maintain it better, reducing the likelihood of vandalism, neglect and subsequent need for costly replacement.

 http://www.communityplanning.net/aboutcp/aboutcp.php

 "The professionals need to consult the users of their buildings more closely. The inhabitants have the local knowledge: they must not be despised. People are not there to be planned for; they are to be worked with… There must be one golden rule ­ we all need to be involved together ­ planning and architecture are much too important to be left to the professionals."
HRH The Prince of Wales, A Vision of Britain, 1989