The Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum (‘BGNF’ for short) is a community group made up of local residents and businesses, who are working together to create a Neighbourhood Plan for the designated area.
Under the Localism Act (2011) the Forum has applied to Lewisham Council to be formally recognised and constituted. The Council are consulting residents on this and the creation of the Neighbourhood Area.
Following a successful consultation, the Forum will be granted powers under the Localism Act to lead the creation of a Local Neighbourhood Plan.
The Forum has been meeting for over two years now, and it’s purpose is to promote and improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Bell Green. One of the ways it is working towards this goal, is through the Neighbourhood Plan, which puts forward policies to help guide the improvement and future development of the area.
All residents interested in working towards this goal are encouraged to join the Forum. Members must work towards the objectives of the Forum’s constitution.
What is Neighbourhood Planning?
In 2011 the Localism Act was established. It devolved a number of decision making powers to Local Authorities and Communities, as described in the “Plain English guide to the Localism Act”. It included some planning reforms allowing local communities to have a greater say in how their area developed by following a Neighbourhood Planning process, as detailed by National Planning Guidance.
The Neighbourhood planning process allows local residents and businesses to have their own planning policies in a Neighbourhood Plan that reflect their priorities, deliver tangible local benefits and have real weight in planning decisions. More information can be found on My Community website.
The desire for a Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum grew out of the public consultation over previous work created by the Sydenham Society and Discourse Architecture which imagined how Bell Green could look in the future.