RESIDENTS of Low and High Bradley are set to have influence over future planning decisions in their community after its neighbourhood plan was formerly adopted. 

The community-led plan, which will be used to shape future development along with the Craven Local Plan, was first mooted in Bradley ten years ago at a well attended public meeting, has now been approved by the executive of North Yorkshire Council, which

The plan, which sets out the vision, objectives and planning policies relating to the parish, which serves the villages of Low and High Bradley, was submitted by Bradleys Both Parish Council to the former Craven Council in October last year, and followed the designation of the parish as a neighbourhood area in December, 2013.

The plan was scrutinised in January and February this year by an independent examiner to make sure it met basic conditions set out by law, and following a number of modifications, it went to a public referendum in July which saw a 24 per cent turn out of residents of Bradleys Both and 80 per cent voting in favour.

The plan covers the years until 2032 and was developed by a planning group made up of parish councillors and volunteers from the parish.

In its foreword, it states: "(The plan) is informed by a range of evidence and from consultation on the housing,business, transport, community facilities and environmental needs of Bradley and its relationship to the wider Craven District Council’s requirements.

"The concept of a NDP for Bradleys Both had significant support as expressed by residents’ feedback from a ‘table-cloth’ comments exercise at a well-attended public meeting in the village hall in April 2013 and subsequent consultations."

Towards the end of 2014, every household was invited by the planning group to take part in a consultation and respond to draft policies, which were then used to form the plan, with another consultation taking place in 2016.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for planning, Councillor Derek Bastiman, said: “Neighbourhood Plans contribute to our Council Plan to support local people to become more actively involved in their communities.

“The plan also gives us an opportunity to set out and deliver a countywide approach to tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions. The plan includes policies to guide those aims within the designated area.”

The NDP will form part of the statutory development plan for the area along with the adopted Craven Local Plan (2019).