The possibility of neighbourhood plans, created by local communities, was established by the Localism Act 2011: the objective is described on the Government website as follows:
Neighbourhood planning is a new way for communities to have a say in the future of the places where they live and work. It gives you the power to produce a plan with real legal weight that directs development in your local area. It helps you:
- choose where you want new homes, shops and offices to be built
- have your say on what those new buildings should look like
- grant planning permission for the new buildings you want to see go ahead
Groups can get tailored advice, support and grants to develop their neighbourhood plans.1
On October 5 2022 West Saint Leonards Forum lodged its first applications for the designation of West St Leonards Neighbourhood Area and forum. It followed a detailed process with three surveys of local residents being made of the area which was finally agreed at a public meeting on September 23, amending the version agreed along with the constitution of the forum at a public meeting on March 23 2022.
The applications were approved by Hastings Council on April 6 2023, following its own consultation with the local community. During the consultation residents of Collingswood Drive asked for their road to be included in the Neighbourhood Area and this was agreed, but it involved further applications for designation of the extended area as the Neighbourhood Area as well as the Forum, which was changed because it covered the extended area.
The fresh applications were made in October 2023 and both applications were approved on February 6 2024.
Since then WSLNF has started work on producing a neighbourhood plan.
Our hope is that by working together we can help revive and develop West Saint Leonards in ways which benefit existing and future residents as well as local organisations, including businesses. We would like to build on the history and traditions of the area.
Whilst waiting for the approval of Hastings Council, we developed a local history project, which obtained the reminiscences of local people, their lives in the area and how they came to the area as well as recording some of the major historical influences on the area. Judges1, who have a unique archive of photographs of the area, going back to the end of the 19th century helped us in preparing an exhibition in April 2023 at the Electro Studios Project Space2 on Seaside Road, who are also supporting the project. Local workshops and meetings are being planned, when residents can come and share their knowledge of the area.
If you are interested in working with us on the neighbourhood plan or the history project or just have ideas about how we should proceed, please join us.
Residents and people working within the designated area can become members of the forum but anyone who is interested in our work is welcome and can join as associate members or simply subscribe to our mailing list.
Our website is https://www.weststleonards.org.uk/
Or email us: West Saint Leonard Forum <
2http://www.electrostudiosprojectspace.co.uk/
1https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/take-part/make-a-neighbourhood-plan