SILVERTON Parish Council has applied to be designated a ‘neighbourhood area’ in advance of producing a neighbourhood plan.

This is the third application Mid Devon District Council has received for a neighbourhood planning designation since the Localism Act (2011) gave local communities the power to produce plans for their own areas.

A neighbourhood plan is a community-led framework for guiding the future development and growth of an area.

It must conform to the Mid Devon Local Plan’s strategic policies, national planning policy and human rights legislation.

Neighbourhood plans are also subject to public examination and referendum.

As a first step in the preparation of the plan Silverton Parish Council has submitted its parish boundary as the proposed boundary of the neighbourhood area.

The parish council’s application and a map of the proposed area can be viewed at www.middevon.gov.uk/|neighbourhoodplanning and at the Council Offices, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton.

The deadline for representations is Monday, May 19.