The Headingley Neighbourhood Plan (HNP) was formally ‘made’ on 19 January 2023. This is the final and definitive stage of one of the longest running local community engagement projects going! We started in 2014 and have ended up with a statutory document which gives the community real powers in planning applications.
Technically the Plan is a ‘material consideration’ to be taken into account in any planning applications in our neighbourhood area, all planning officers are aware of it. If any Headingley residents are commenting on any applications they can also say that the Plan needs to be a consideration.
The Plan also gives guidance about community views on climate, traffic, community development and biodiversity, effectively we have agreed (and voted on) ideas for the way Headingley sees itself in the future.
Carried out by a Steering Group appointed by Headingley Neighbourhood Forum, the Neighbourhood Plan is now complete, but there are options for a new version of the Forum (working in partnership with other community and interest groups) to use the plan to the benefit of Headingley in the future. Before the Covid lock down there were a few meetings involving members of the HNP Steering Group, Headingley Network and Headingley Development Trust to look at how we might do this. This work was derailed by the pandemic, but we had some interesting discussions about how we build on the very successful existing community involvement in Headingley in a way that opens things up to new and younger community members through community actions.
And finally, thanks to everyone – and there were a lot of you - who contributed to the plan.
Helen Gee
Secretary (2017-2022)
Headingley Neighbourhood Forum
Plan at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Headingley%20Neighbourhood%20Plan.pdf
and printed copies at HEART and Headingley Library
Contact headingleynp@gmail.com
