Current Position
November 2021
At the referendum on the neighbourhood plan that took place on 25th November 2021, 89 of the votes cast were in favour of the Neighbourhood Plan being made part of the Development Plan for Milton Keynes and 12 were against. The turnout was 43.9%. Declaration of Results
Following the successful referendum, the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan is now in force as part of the statutory development plan for the area covered by Astwood and Hardmead parish and will be used when making decisions on planning applications in this area.
Referendum Information
25 November 2021
A Referendum relating to the adoption of the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan will be held on Thursday, 25 November 2021
The question which will be asked in the Referendum is:
'Do you want Milton Keynes Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Astwood and Hardmead to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?'
The Referendum area is identified on the map within the Information Statement which is available below. This is the same as the designated Neighbourhood Plan area for Astwood and Hardmead.
Residential Referendum
A person is entitled to vote in the Residential Referendum if, on 25 November 2021:
- he or she is entitled to vote in a local government election in the referendum area and
- his or her qualifying address for the election is in the Referendum area. A person’s qualifying address is, in relation to a person registered in the register of electors, the address in respect of which he or she is entitled to be so registered.
Referendum expenses
The Referendum expenses limit that will apply to this Referendum is £2,375.
The Referendum will be conducted in accordance with procedures which are similar to those used at local government elections.
Specified documents
A number of "specified documents" have to be published for the Referendum. These provide information about the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan and the planning system in general.
The specified documents can be viewed here:
- a copy of the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan
- a statement providing specific information about the Referendum including a map of the Neighbourhood Plan area.
- a statement that sets out general information about Town and Country Planning including neighbourhood planning and the referendum (information for voters)
- the report of the Independent Examiner on the Neighbourhood Plan
- a summary of the Regulation 16 responses to the submitted Neighbourhood Plan.
- a statement by Milton Keynes Council that the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan meets the Basic Conditions and complies with the relevant legislation.
Questions
If you have any questions, you can:
- call 01908 691691 between Monday to Friday (10:00 – 17:15)
- email us at neighbourhoodplanning@milton-keynes.gov.uk
- visit the Planning Policy pages of the website
September 2021
Decision statement following receipt of Examiner's report
Following the receipt of the Examiner's report on the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan, Milton Keynes Council has considered and accepted all of the Examiner's recommendations. The Neighbourhood Plan will now proceed to a referendum.
Milton Keynes Council’s Decision on Examiner’s Report
Examiner's report
The Examiner's report on the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan has been published.
Examiner’s report on the Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan
May 2021
Following the publicity period on the submitted Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan, Milton Keynes Council has appointed Louise Brooke-Smith to conduct an examination of the Neighbourhood Plan. The examiner’s main role is to ensure that the neighbourhood plan meets the basic conditions.
Should the examiner consider that a hearing is required as part of the examination then further information and arrangements for that will appear on this web page.
Comments received during publicity period
- Abhishake and Sheeba Gulati
- Canal and River Trust
- Highways England
- Luke Bacon
- Natural England
- Keith Watson
- Doug & Sue Smith
- Avison Young on behalf of National Grid
- Stephen Thomas
- Jackie Elsey
- Phillip Barrett
- Tracy Wright
- Historic England
- Derek Chapman
Comments received after publicity period
April 2021
Astwood and Hardmead Parish Council submitted the Astwood & Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan to Milton Keynes Council on 11 March 2021.
In accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Milton Keynes Council is now publicising the submitted Neighbourhood Plan and its accompanying documents for six weeks from Friday 9 April 2021 to 5pm on Friday 21 May 2021.
The Publicity Summary Statement provides more information about the plan and the consultation arrangements.
The Submitted Neighbourhood Plan and its accompanying documents can be found as follows:
- Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan
- Basic Conditions Statement
- Consultation Statement
- Designated Area Map
- Site Assessment Report
Following the publicity period, an independent examiner will be appointed to consider the neighbourhood plan and any comments received during the consultation. The examiner will decide if the plan and its policies meet the basic conditions that all neighbourhood plans must comply with and whether the plan should proceed to a local referendum.
Making Comments
Any comments on the submitted Astwood & Hardmead Neighbourhood Plan must be received at the following address before 5pm on Friday 21 May 2021
By post to: Neighbourhood Planning, c/o UDLA, Milton Keynes Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ.
By email to: neighbourhoodplanning@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Please be aware that all comments that we receive will be publicly available and may be included on our website.
December 2018
In November 2018 Astwood and Hardmead Parish Council applied to Milton Keynes Council, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 to designate a Neighbourhood Plan Area for the Parish of Astwood and Hardmead.
Under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development Management Procedure (Amendment) Regulations 2016 there is no longer a requirement to publicise area designation applications if the area specified in the application encompasses the entire Parish area. In such cases, the Regulations state that designations must be made as soon as possible, once the Authority is satisfied that the application is valid and complete. This was the case with the Astwood and Hardmead Parish Council application.
Following a Neighbourhood Planning Officer decision on 6 December 2018 the area put forward by Astwood and Hardmead Parish Council in its Neighbourhood Plan Area Application has now been approved as a Neighbourhood Plan Area.
To comply with Regulation 7 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 Milton Keynes Council is publicising the following details:
- the name of the Neighbourhood Area: Astwood and Hardmead Neighbourhood Area
- the name of the relevant body who applied for designation: Astwood and Hardmead Parish Council
- a map of the designated area can be viewed
- the Neighbourhood Planning Officer decision report and decision