The idea of NDPs is that they give local people a greater say in planning decisions that affect their area. Barnsley Council already has a Local Plan and other documents with policies to guide the development of the borough. The NDP complements those documents with the policies at the neighbourhood level and is designed to reflect the needs and priorities of the local community. Unlike earlier documents produced by the Parish Council, the policies in the NDP must be considered when Barnsley Council takes decisions on planning applications.
NDPs can identify where development should take place, set out local design principles so that buildings respond positively to local character, and protect important facilities, historic buildings, the natural environment, and open spaces. However, the NDP cannot contradict policies in other statutory planning documents, both for Barnsley and nationally, so we must consider these as we prepare the NDP policies.