AECOM Consultation Statement Eton & Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement April 2017 Consultation Statement Eton and Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan Contents 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4 2.0 Background ................................................................................................................................... 4 3.0 Aim of the Eton & Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan ........................................................................ 7 4.0 Eton & Eton Wick Steering Group and sub group meetings .......................................................... 8 5.0 Consultation with key stakeholders and community groups .........................................................11 6.0 Communication tools ...................................................................................................................13 7.0 Stages and timeline of formal engagement events .......................................................................14 8.0 Stage 1 – First round of drop-in events ........................................................................................16 9.0 Stage 2 – Questionnaires and second round of exhibitions ..........................................................19 10.0 Stage 3 – Regulation 14 Pre-submission consultation and third round of exhibitions ...................21 11.0 How the main issues and concerns have been considered ..........................................................24 Appendix 1: Steering Group Meeting agendas (example) .......................................................................33 Appendix 2: Neighbourhood Plan featured in ‘Eton Matters’ (August 2014) ............................................34 Appendix 3: Neighbourhood Plan featured in ‘Eton Matters’ (March 2015) .............................................35 Appendix 4: Notification of Consultation 1 - Poster (September 2014) ....................................................36 Appendix 5: Notification of Consultation 2 - Poster (September 2014) ....................................................37 Appendix 6: Notification of Consultation 3 - Poster (September 2014) ....................................................38 Appendix 7: Consultation Flyer (September 2014) ..................................................................................39 Appendix 8: Consultation Flyer (September 2014) ..................................................................................41 Appendix 9: Consultation Drop-In Session Topic Boards (September 2014) ..........................................42 Appendix 10: Feedback Survey (September 2014) .................................................................................46 Appendix 11: Summary of Feedback from Drop-in Sessions (September 2014) .....................................48 Appendix 12: Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire (September 2015) .....................................................51 Appendix 13: Consultation feedback and summary (October 2015)........................................................53 Appendix 14: Eton Town Council Press Release to Notify about Regulation 14 Consultation .................56 Appendix 15: Letter notifying of pre-submission consultation (October 2016) .........................................56 Appendix 16: Neighbourhood Plan Survey Pre-submission Consultation (October 2016) .......................58 Appendix 17: Neighbourhood Plan Updates on the Eton Town Council Website (October 2016) ...........59 Appendix 18: Letter notifying of pre-submission consultation (October 2016) .........................................60 Appendix 19: Neighbourhood Plan Drop-In boards (November 2016) ....................................................61 Appendix 20: List of organisations consulted at the Regulation 14 consultation stage ............................63 2 Consultation Statement Eton and Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan 3 AECOM Consultation Statement 1.0 Introduction 1.1. This consultation statement has been prepared to meet the legal obligations of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 in respect of the Eton & Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan (“NDP”). 1.2. The legal basis of the Consultation Statement is provided by Section 15(2) of Part 5 of the 2012 Neighbourhood Planning Regulations, which requires that a consultation statement should: 1) Contain details of the persons and bodies who were consulted about the proposed neighbourhood development plan; 2) Explain how they were consulted; 3) Summarise the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted; and 4) Describe how those issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant addressed in the proposed NDP 2.0 Background 2.1. Our Parish has a unique and historic environment and compromises two settlements – the town of Eton and the village of Eton Wick. Eton has close links with Windsor and has the unique characteristic of hosting the world-famous institution for education, Eton College. Eton has a vibrant high street that serves local residents and tourists visiting Windsor and Eton. Eton Wick, by contrast, is a predominantly residential settlement surrounded by farmland – indeed, wick means farm in old English. 2.2. Eton town and Eton Wick village are located in the RBWM. Eton College comprises much of the north-eastern boundary of our parish, whilst the south and east is bound by the River Thames. To the north runs the Jubilee River and, Dorney Common is situated to the west. The majority of the policies in the Plan concern the town of Eton and village of Eton Wick, but there is a significant amount of farmland, Common land and Lammas land that makes up the hinterland of the two settlements. In addition, the area includes floodplain and highly valued built heritage. Such factors limit the amount of developable land and require a sympathetic approach from new developments. 2.3. Representatives from Eton Town Council, together with representatives from the local community formed The Eton & Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group ('Steering Group). The Steering Group was authorised by the ‘qualifying body’ (the Town Council) to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for the designated area of Eton & Eton Wick in 2013. 2.4. The area concerned: Eton town and Eton Wick village is shown in its entirety on the map overleaf (figure 1). The application to develop a Neighbourhood plan was submitted to The 4 Consultation Statement Eton and Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (RBWM) for the designated area in Figure 1 on the 8 August 2013 and was subsequently approved on the 17th October 2013. Furthermore, the designation of the Neighbourhood Plan area was announced to Eton Town Council on that day by email. Figure 1 Eton and Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan Area 2.5. The Steering Group have consulted widely with local residents, retailers, businesses, Eton College and other groups and bodies with an interest in the local area; as well as gained advice from planning experts on such matters as evidence gathering and compliance with relevant legislation and higher order planning policy. 2.6. The group have been open to new members and ideas at all phases of the neighbourhood plan production process. This is evidenced in the many communications which specifically request new members (see Appendices1 and 2). In addition, the group’s drop in sessions and the questionnaire delivered through the first round of public consultation also asked whether respondents would like to be involved in the group. 2.7. In order to ensure that consultation for the neighbourhood plan has been effective and inclusive from the outset, the Steering Group undertook training and committed to an organisational structure and strategy as follows: - The Chair of the Steering Group attended a Neighbourhood Planning national launch event and training - The Steering Group was initiated and sub groups formed. - Leaders were appointed and the scope of sub groups agreed, Steering Group meetings were scheduled regularly. 5 Consultation Statement Eton and Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan - The mandate of the sub groups was designed to place emphasis on achieving good representation from across the community in Eton and Eton Wick. - Feedback was given at every Steering Group meeting in order to assure input from all sub groups was incorporated into the neighbourhood plan and consultation strategy as the draft plan evolved. 2.8. RBWM contacts have been an integral part of the process, with Robert Paddison as our current expert, preceded by both Ian Bellinger and Brian Whitely. Experience has been gained from other local Qualifying Bodies. The Ascot and Sunningdale lead presented to the Steering Group early on in the process in order to educate the group about the process of consultation required. 2.9. Representatives from the Steering Group have also attended Windsor Business Neigbourhood Plan, Windsor Neighbourhood Plan and Horton & Wraysbury events with all emerging materials reviewed thoroughly, to improve our own NDP and also to ensure that there are no conflicts with our geographically adjacent colleagues. 6 Consultation Statement Eton and Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan 3.0 Aim of the Eton & Eton Wick Neighbourhood Plan 3.1. The aim of the NDP over the period to 2036 is to make the neighbourhood area an even better place to live, work and visit. The forum wishes to conserve, sustain and enhance the neighbourhood and make