THE GILSTON AREA NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN (GANP)

Executive summary:

This is a unique Neighbourhood Plan: it sets policies for a development of 10,000 new homes- the first in the country to do so. This was a great challenge for a small community group: the plan had to have robust evidence and go through a rigorous examination with a very experienced QC. The Plan will have gone through Referendum just weeks before the awards will be announced.

Our work demonstrates the positive contribution communities can make. Winning the award would allow us to share with other communities the lesson learned (dialogue, a tight focus on what matters, pragmatism, pace, etc.) and provide a positive case study to the Government localism and beauty agenda. More than anything, it will help to make the development the best it can possibly be.