Breckland Neighbourhood Plan Top-up funding - consideration of the future options

Funding

1. Introduction

1.1 A review of the current arrangements is required as there have been recent enquiries regarding the availability of funding for a review of 'made' (agreed) Neighbourhood Plans. Given the agreed timetable for the update of the Local Plan, it is likely that parish and town councils may wish to review their plans to ensure conformity with the National Planning Policy Framework.

1.2 This review considers what has previously occurred (and what has been bid for) and how funding could be allocated in the future.

1.3 The District Council is not required to offer funding.

2. National Funding

2.1 In June 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced that it has stopped funding for the neighbourhood planning support programme.

3. Breckland Council Funding

3.1 The following is proposed for parishes and town councils preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for the first time or undertaking a review of a made plan:

A grant of up to £5,000 per Plan
Applicants will need to provide detailed breakdowns of the estimated costs for the support required (to reflect DLUHC requirements)
The grant ceiling applies to the whole period from April 2015 to March 2023 (to reflect DLUHC requirements)
Grants to be used by 31 March 2026 or repaid to the Council
Applications to be submitted by email and signed by the Chair of the relevant parish or town council
Grants will be paid to the relevant parish or town council

3.2 All groups undertaking a Neighbourhood Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order (NDO) are eligible to apply for up to £5,000 in basic grant. Grants may be used for a broad range of activities that support the plan or order-making process, including:

Training sessions for members of the steering group
Help with developing a project plan
Support with developing the evidence base and analysing it to identify issues and aims
Undertaking a housing survey
Engaging a facilitator for capacity building, community consultation, or workshops
Developing a website
Costs associated with public engagement and consultation on the plan or order
Engaging a planning expert to draft policies
Support for making site allocations
Specialist studies such as housing needs assessments, ecology surveys (including Phase 1 habitat surveys), or transport studies where they directly inform neighbourhood plan policies
Support for undertaking a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
Support for the six-week pre-submission consultation
Support with analysing consultation responses and deciding how to modify the plan or order
Help with understanding whether the plan or order is ready for examination (Basic Conditions and legal requirements)
Training in the legal requirements tested at examination
Venue hire
Publicity materials
Printing
Virtual meeting platforms
Online survey tools
Improvements to website accessibility

3.3 Only one grant will be paid per Plan. If a group is updating a neighbourhood plan that has already been 'made' by the Local Planning Authority, it may apply for the grant allowances again. Previous grant or technical support is not taken into account — the full allowance is reset.

3.4 Parish and Town Councils are able to claim back VAT under HMRC Notice 749 as members of the government family. VAT must therefore be excluded from application budgets and removed from any quotes or fees.

3.5 Applicants must provide detailed breakdowns of estimated costs for the support required. Applications should ideally cover activities scheduled to start at least one month after submission to allow time for assessment and the grant-offer process to be completed.

Plans Being Updated

Some parishes with made Neighbourhood Plans are considering whether to review or update them, although this is not a formal requirement. Plans can become out of date, and more recent evidence may be given greater weight in planning decisions.

There are three types of updates to a Neighbourhood Plan:

Minor (non-material) modifications - Breckland Council may make these changes under current regulations.
Material modifications - these require an Examination.
Significant or substantial modifications - these change the nature of the plan and require both Examination and Referendum.