North Yorkshire Council

Executive Member for Open to Business

11 February 2026

Beadlam and Nawton Neighbourhood Area Designation

Report of the Corporate Director for Community Development

1.0      PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1      Following the consultation from Beadlam and Nawton Parish Councils submission of an Area Application to designate the combined entirety of both Parishes to become a neighbourhood area, we are seeking approval for the proposed neighbourhood area.

2.0      BACKGROUND

2.1      On 5 November 2025 an application was submitted to the council for designation of a neighbourhood area for Bedlam and Nawton Parish Councils (combined area), to enable the Parish Councils as the Qualifying Body to proceed with formal neighbourhood plan preparations.

2.2      Neighbourhood planning was introduced through the Localism Act in 2011 and provides communities with direct power to develop a shared vision for their area, shaping development and growth. Neighbourhood planning provides a set of tools for local people to plan for the types of development to meet their community’s needs.

3.0 DESIGNATION OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA

3.1      For a neighbourhood plan area to be designated there must be a ‘relevant body.’ In this case the proposed neighbourhood area aligns with the two Parish Councils of Beadlam and Nawton and they together form the relevant body. Upon designation they will be the Qualifying Body responsible for preparing any future neighbourhood plan.

3.2 Part 2(5) of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) requires the relevant body to submit an area application that must include:

a. a statement explaining why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area (see Appendix A to this report);

b. a statement that the organisation or body making the area application is a relevant body for the purposes of section 61G of the 1990 Act (see Appendix A to this report); and

c. a map which identifies the area to which the area application relates (see Appendix B to this report);

3.3 The application received for the designation of the neighbourhood area is attached as Appendix A: Area application. The application fulfils all these requirements and so is valid.

3.4 In the case of this proposed neighbourhood area the boundary includes that part of both parishes which is situated within the North York Moors National Park Authority. As a separate Local Planning Authority the North York Moors National Park Authority must also make its own decision to designate the proposed neighbourhood area. For neighbourhood planning purposes North Yorkshire Council will be the responsible authority given much of the population lies within our Local Planning Authority area.

4.0      CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN AND RESPONSES

4.1      A public consultation is required when the area applied for as a neighbourhood area does not match a single whole parish or town council area. In this case the neighbourhood area aligns with the combined area of both Beadlam and Nawton Parish Councils. A public consultation has been completed for the proposed area. The consultation started on 14 November 2025 and ended on 12 January 2026. This is greater than the statutory six weeks as required by Part 2(6)(c) of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) to take account of the Christmas period.

4.2      In total 14 comments were received from 14 people/organisations. All comments were either supportive or provided a neutral response i.e. no comment.

5.0      CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES

5.1      Once ‘made’ (adopted), a neighbourhood plan forms part of the Development Plan for the area and becomes a key mechanism to help support the delivery of key themes in the Council’s Plan.

6.0      ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

6.1      Through the Localism Act, the Council has a duty to support those wishing to prepare a neighbourhood plan. The designation of a neighbourhood area is a critical initial step in the preparation of a neighbourhood plan. At this stage the decision is whether to designate the area as proposed. There are no alternative options available.

7.0      FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1      There is no cost associated with neighbourhood area designation, only the amount

of officer time involved. However, the Council will incur further costs with the subsequent preparation of the neighbourhood plan. This will mainly be through officer time supporting preparation of the neighbourhood plan. It should be noted that grant funding to support Qualifying Bodies prepare neighbourhood plans was withdrawn in 2025 (for any new neighbourhood plans), this may place increased demands on officer time going forward. Later in the process there will be the cost of examination and referendum. However, the Council can continue to claim full costs for both the examination and referendum from the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government.

7.2      Once a neighbourhood plan is made (adopted) there will be a change to the proportion of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) that is transferred to the relevant parish or town council. Before a neighbourhood plan is made the amount transferred is 15%. Once a plan is in place the amount increases to 25%.

8.0      LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

8.1      The designation of a neighbourhood area is undertaken in accordance with the

            Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended). Local                        planning authorities should only refuse to designate a neighbourhood area                                    when there are clear reasons to do so. As detailed above, it is the officer view that                       here are no such reasons.

9.0      EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

9.1       At this stage there are no detailed policies to review. Neighbourhood plans are required to be in general conformity and plan positively to support the strategies set out in the wider Development Plan, which has been subject to Equalities Impact Assessments. All neighbourhood plans will be considered in relation to the Human Rights Act 1998 and can only be adopted where they are compatible with the legislation. See Appendix C.

10.0    CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

10.1    There are no climate change considerations associated with the report. A screening report will need to be undertaken once a draft of the neighbourhood plan is available to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required in accordance with the European Directive 2001/42/EC and associated Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004. That screening report will also identify any requirement for a Habitat Regulations Assessment in accordance with Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive and with Regulation 61 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended). See Appendix D.

11.0    REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

11.1    As set out above the comments received are supportive or no comment. There are no reasons that indicate that the area should not be designated. Therefore, the recommendation is the neighbourhood area is designated.

12.0	RECOMMENDATION
12.1	That the Executive Member for Open for Business approves the designation of the proposed area as a neighbourhood area under Part 2(7) of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), to enable the next stages of the development of a neighbourhood plan to commence.

APPENDICES:

Appendix A - Neighbourhood area application

            Appendix B – Map showing proposed neighbourhood area

            Appendix C - Equalities Impact Assessment

Appendix D - Climate Change Impact Assessment

Nic Harne Corporate Director – Community Development County Hall Northallerton DL7 8AD 11 February 2026

Report Author – Henry Cumbers, Principal Planning Policy and Place Officer

Presenter of Report – Henry Cumbers, Principal Planning Policy and Place Officer

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.