Neighbourhood planning

An area around Malden Rushett has been designated as a neighbourhood area. An application was made by a community group called 'Malden Rushett Community', and the area was designated by the council at the end of January 2022, following a consultation. The red line boundary of the Malden Rushett Neighborhood Area is shown on the map in the list of documents below. 

This designation is connected with neighbourhood planning which gives power to communities to develop a shared vision and plan for their neighbourhood, to shape the development and growth of their local area.

Next steps

Now that the Malden Rushett neighbourhood area has been designated, the Malden Rushett Community or another community group can apply to be designated as the neighbourhood forum for the area. The designated neighbourhood forum for the area would be able to prepare a neighbourhood plan or development order for the neighbourhood area. If adopted, the vision, objectives and policies of any future Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Plan would apply to this area, and be used to guide decisions on planning applications within the neighbourhood area. 

Set out below is more information about the neighbourhood planning process and where we are now:

1. Neighbourhood Area application submission

2. Consultation on Neighbourhood Area designation

3. Council decides on Neighbourhood Area designation (this is where we are now, the council has designated the Neighbourhood Area)

4. Neighbourhood Forum application submission

5. Consultation on Neighbourhood Forum designation

6. Council decides on Neighbourhood Forum designation

7. Neighbourhood Forum prepares draft plan 

8. Neighbourhood Forum consults on a draft plan

9. Neighbourhood Forum modifies draft plan

10. Neighbourhood Forum submits plan to council

11. Council consults on the submitted plan

12. Plan is assessed by an independent examiner who recommends whether the plan should proceed to referendum

13. Plan may be modified based on the examiner’s recommendations.

14. Local Referendum in the Neighbourhood Area

15. If a majority support the neighbourhood plan it is adopted by the council

Previous steps

Malden Rushett Community Neighbourhood Area application

A community group called 'Malden Rushett Community' applied to have Malden Rushett designated as a neighbourhood area.

Consultation on this neighbourhood area application took place from 11 November 2021 to 23 December 2021.

For more information about this application, the supporting documents are available to view and download below:

• Application for designation of the Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Area

• Annex 1 - Map of Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Area

• Annex 2 - List of small green belt villages with an adopted neighbourhood plan

• Annex 3 - Borough Character Study - Chapter 22 Malden Rushett

• Annex 4 - Malden Rushett Community draft constitution

• Annex 5 - Application checklist

Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Area designation

The council reviewed the responses to the consultation. The neighbourhood area application was considered to conform with all relevant regulatory requirements. The Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Area was designated on 27 January 2022. The Designation Notice and the Report on the neighbourhood area application are available to view and download below:

• Report on the Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Area application
• Designation Notice of the Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Area
• Consultation Statement on the Malden Rushett Neighbourhood Area application

Further information on neighbourhood planning can be found via the Government website.