Stages of neighbourhood planning

Once independently approved by the examiner, your neighbourhood plan or development order will need to be put to a community referendum.

This will ensure that your local community has the final say on whether your plan or order is to come into effect.

Everyone living in the area of coverage of the neighbourhood plan or order, who are registered to vote in local elections, will be entitled to vote in the referendum. 

In some cases, it may also be appropriate for people from neighbouring areas to be allowed to vote on your plan or order, such as where the proposals for your area might significantly impact on them too.

Your neighbourhood plan or development order will simply need to achieve more than 50% of the vote in its favour in the referendum for it to be taken forward for formal adoption by South Tyneside Council.